HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Departmental Official Hospitality

Grant Shapps: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much has been spent on  (a) staff Christmas parties and  (b) staff entertainment in the House of Commons in the last three years.

Nick Harvey: The amounts spent in the last three years have been:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Christmas parties 2,704 3,835 3,661 
			 Staff entertainment 5,574 1,513 7,149

SCOTLAND

Departmental Marketing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in the last 12 months.

Ann McKechin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 808-09W, to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne).

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many special advisers were employed in his Department at each pay band on 30 November 2008; and what his Department's expenditure on special advisers was in 2007-08.

Ann McKechin: The Government are committed to publishing an annual list detailing the number and costs of special advisers. Information for 2007-08 was published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 99-102WS.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to ensure that those temporary and permanent employees at the same grade in his Department who are paid at an hourly rate are paid at the same rate.

Ann McKechin: Staff in the Scotland Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice and the Office reimburses those Departments for the costs involved. The Office does not maintain a record of the hourly pay for temporary or permanent staff; such information is the responsibility of the parent Departments.

Mental Illness

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the recommendations relevant to his Department's policy responsibilities made in the Foresight report on Mental Capacity and Well-Being; and if he will make a statement.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office is part of the Ministry of Justice, who have read the Foresight report and will be considering it with a view to taking up any relevant findings.
	Part of that process will involve an assessment of what the report might mean for departmental policies and a report will follow on it in due course.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers: Construction

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects construction of the two new aircraft carriers to commence.

Quentin Davies: Construction is already under way, and will continue with the first cut of steel in the main shipyards of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance scheduled for 2009.

Armed Forces: Deployment

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what average length of time a  (a) Royal Marine Officer and  (b) Royal Marine spent away from home over the latest 30-month period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The average number of days that Royal Marine individuals are recorded as being separated from where they are based over the last 30 months from 1 May 2006 to 31 October 2008 is as follows:
	
		
			   Days 
			 Royal Marine Officers 154 
			 Royal Marine Other Ranks 169

Departmental Research

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many research contracts his Department placed with UK universities and other academic research centres in each of the last 10 years; and what the monetary value of each was.

Quentin Davies: A breakdown of research contracts placed with UK universities and other academic research centres is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Future Surface Combatant

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the first Future Surface Combatant will enter service.

Quentin Davies: It is departmental policy to release in-service dates only for those vessels for which the main investment decision has been taken. The Future Surface Combatant programme has not yet reached this stage. However, on current plans, we expect the first vessel to enter service around the end of the next decade.

Harrier Aircraft

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the out-of-service date will be for the aircraft comprising the Joint Harrier Force.

Quentin Davies: The planned out-of-service date for the Harrier aircraft is 2018.

Joint Strike Fighter

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex of 6 November 2008,  Official Report, column 676W, on the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, whether a deadline for disclosing the target offtake has been set.

Quentin Davies: We do not expect to make any commitments in this respect until operational test and evaluation of JSF is complete in 2014.

Joint Strike Fighter

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex of 6 November 2008,  Official Report, column 676W, on the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, when he expects the through life cost of the Joint Strike Fighter programme to be established.

Quentin Davies: Through life costs will not be established until the JSF support solution is sufficiently mature, and will be dependent on the number of aircraft the UK purchases to meet its defence needs. We do not expect to make any commitments in this respect until operational test and evaluation of JSF is complete.

Submarines

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when each Trafalgar Class submarine will go out of service.

Quentin Davies: Our present planning assumptions, which are routinely updated as required, are as follows:
	
		
			  Name  Out-of-service date 
			 HMS Trafalgar 2009 
			 HMS Turbulent 2011 
			 HMS Tireless 2013 
			 HMS Torbay 2015 
			 HMS Trenchant 2017 
			 HMS Talent 2019 
			 HMS Triumph 2022

Warships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when  (a) HMS Queen Elizabeth and  (b) HMS Prince of Wales will enter service.

Quentin Davies: The in-service dates (ISD) declared at the time of the project main gate were 2014 for HMS Queen Elizabeth and 2016 for HMS Prince of Wales.
	As stated in the written ministerial statement issued on 11 December 2008,  Official Report, column 65WS, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, it is likely that the in-service dates of the new carriers will be delayed by one to two years.
	We are in the process of agreeing revised ISDs for the two new carriers with our industrial partners.

Warships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when each  (a) Type 22 and  (b) Type 23 frigate will go out of service.

Quentin Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 6 November 2008,  Official Report, column 678W.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

2018 World Cup Bid Board

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance his Department has given on cross-party working to the 2018 World Cup Bid Board; what commitments he has received from attendees at board meetings on abiding by such guidance; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 16 December 2008
	Cross-party support for the 2018 World cup bid is very important. Officials at my Department have had discussions with the interim bid team about how best to ensure all political parties are kept informed of progress with the bid. England 2018 Ltd. is in the process of recruiting a director of government liaison, whose key responsibilities include one to
	"Ensure all relevant Party Leaders ... are regularly briefed on the progress of the Bid."

2018 World Cup Bid Board

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what 2018 World Cup Bid Board meetings  (a) have been held and  (b) are scheduled; and what plans he has to publish the minutes of each meeting.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 16 December 2008
	Meetings of the bid company, England 2018 Ltd., board and publication of their minutes are a matter for the company itself. I have attended one board meeting, on 6 November 2008, and have meetings in my diary on a monthly basis until May.

Arts Council of England: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the money spent by  (a) Arts Council England and  (b) Sport England on media monitoring services came from National Lottery income in each of the last three years.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 8 December 2008
	Arts Council England inform us that media monitoring costs are drawn from their media relations budget, which is sourced from Managed Funds and drawn from Exchequer funding.
	Sport England use a general formula for their administration overheads which means that 45 per cent. of funding is provided from Exchequer funding and 55 per cent. from lottery sources.

Convergence Think Tank

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many more Convergence Think Tank seminars he expects to take place.

Andy Burnham: None. As announced on 17 October 2008, the Convergence Think Tank's work, together with other related initiatives, will now be taken forward as part of the Digital Britain Report.

Departmental Energy

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of energy it wastes.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has implemented a series of initiatives to manage and reduce our energy wastage. These have included new boilers, chillers, air handling units, lighting and fan coil units.
	The Department achieved accreditation under the Carbon Trust Energy Efficiency Accreditation scheme in December 2007. The scheme recognises organisations' efforts in measuring, managing and reducing its energy usage.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to ensure that those temporary and permanent employees at the same grade in his Department who are paid at an hourly rate are paid at the same rate.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport all permanent staff are paid an annual salary rather than at an hourly rate.

Digital Broadcasting

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the research on digital set-top boxes commissioned by his Department during the last three years.

Andy Burnham: DCMS recently commissioned research on possible enhancements to set-top boxes offered under the Digital Switchover Help Scheme. We do not plan to publish the report for reasons of commercial confidentiality and policy development.

English Heritage: Historic Buildings

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many English Heritage properties there were in each region in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: The information requested has been provided by English Heritage and is set out in the following table. The figures include all properties open to the public, including those managed under local management agreements.
	
		
			   London  South East  East of England  South West  West Midlands  East Midlands  Yorkshire  North West  North East  Total 
			 2004 60 65 50 99 29 24 32 35 43 437 
			 2005 60 67 50 99 29 25 31 36 43 440 
			 2006 60 67 50 98 29 24 32 35 43 438 
			 2007 60 66 49 97 29 24 32 36 41 434 
			 2008 60 66 49 97 29 24 32 36 41 434

Historic Buildings: Conservation

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many buildings or monuments were  (a) added to and  (b) removed from the At Risk Register in each year since 1997, broken down by region.

Barbara Follett: The information requested has been provided by English Heritage and is set out in the following tables. The register was established in 1998, but a breakdown of the figures by region is only available from 1999.
	
		
			   East Midlands  East of England  London  North East  North West 
			  Register  Entries removed  Entries added  Entries removed  Entries added  Entries removed  Entries added  Entries removed  Entries added  Entries removed  Entries added 
			 1999 11 10 4 21 7 12 6 20 9 21 
			 2000 13 6 16 15 14 12 10 19 6 9 
			 2001 9 13 3 8 11 14 14 9 9 6 
			 2002 12 6 5 6 15 7 11 3 8 11 
			 2003 12 7 10 7 12 7 6 7 11 6 
			 2004 7 4 10 4 7 8 10 8 8 4 
			 2005 6 6 10 10 13 6 8 6 11 4 
			 2006 5 12 9 6 12 9 10 10 6 2 
			 2007 3 10 9 17 5 7 7 11 11 5 
		
	
	
		
			   South East  South West  West Midlands  Yorkshire and Humber 
			  Register  Entries removed  Entries added  Entries removed  Entries added  Entries removed  Entries added  Entries removed  Entries added 
			 1999 12 10 19 23 17 11 23 13 
			 2000 12 13 13 8 11 10 14 10 
			 2001 17 13 27 12 10 12 14 7 
			 2002 22 16 10 25 14 16 17 8 
			 2003 11 9 11 12 9 9 12 2 
			 2004 10 5 18 12 7 10 14 3 
			 2005 24 3 10 7 10 17 2 9 
			 2006 13 2 9 7 16 2 8 2 
			 2007 5 3 2 7 10 5 5 4

Historic Buildings: Conservation

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many historic buildings and monuments are on the At Risk Register, broken down by region.

Barbara Follett: The information requested has been provided by English Heritage and is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Region  Number of Grade I & II* listed building entries  Number of structural scheduled monument entries  Total number of entries on the register 
			 East Midlands 134 13 147 
			 East of England 92 31 123 
			 London 84 5 89 
			 North East 84 39 123 
			 North West 103 32 135 
			 South East 104 65 169 
			 South West 145 17 162 
			 West Midlands 130 42 172 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 101 21 122 
			 Total 977 265 1,242

Horserace Totalisator Board

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings he and ministerial colleagues have had with Treasury Ministers and officials on the Tote since April 2008.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have had a number of meetings on the Tote since April 2008 at which HM Treasury has been represented.

Music: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government have taken to promote music for young people.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 16 December 2008
	The Government promote music for youth through the Department for Children, Schools and Families' package of funding for music education, which was announced in November last year. This totals £332 million over three years and includes investment in singing, new instruments and free music lessons.
	The Music Mentoring programme, which Youth Music leads on, also seeks to engage young people through a mentoring programme linked to music-making activity and has been allocated £333,000 per year by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport until 2011.

Ports: Overseas Visitors

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research his Department has commissioned on the impressions made by UK ports of entry on foreign visitors.

Barbara Follett: Welcome is one of the key strands of 'Winning' the tourism strategy for 2012 and beyond. In addition, the Welcome to Britain initiative has identified that improvements to our welcome are needed at ports of entry. VisitBritain, in partnership with England's regional development agencies and other members of the Welcome to Britain Steering Group, are currently running a pilot programme at Bristol airport, Manchester airport and Portsmouth port which focuses on improving the welcome at ports of entry. The pilot will be completed in early 2009, with the intention to roll out the scheme further.
	Also, VisitBritain is measuring customer satisfaction through additional questions, on the topic of welcome, in the Civil Aviation Authority's international passenger survey. The survey, aimed at international passengers departing from major airports, is in its third wave, with a year end set of results due at the end of April 2009.

European Capital of Culture: Liverpool

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to publicise in  (a) London and  (b) other places cultural events taking place in Liverpool to mark its year as European Capital of Culture; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has taken many steps to publicise in London and elsewhere cultural events taking place in Liverpool to mark its year as European Capital of Culture. These include: the Liverpool 08 logo on all departmental correspondence; a link to information about the Capital of Culture on the homepage of the Department's website; sending quarterly events guides to all Cabinet Ministers; hosting conferences in Liverpool; referring to Liverpool's status and success in ministerial speeches; and frequent visits by the Secretary of State to Liverpool on DCMS business.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Community Development

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which social action projects he has visited in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Northern Ireland and I make various visits as appropriate to organisations involved in areas associated with social and community activity, mainly in the criminal justice sector. Since devolution the Department for Social Development has assumed responsibility for the majority of organisations involved in social action activities.

Crime Prevention: Northern Ireland

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what projects have been undertaken by each of the community safety partnerships in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) have delivered in excess of 450 local projects in 2007-08 and so far in this financial year (2008-09). Information is not held in a way that can identify projects undertaken only in the last 12 months.
	The Northern Ireland Office Community Safety Unit (CSU) provided £2 million for local projects in the 2007-08 financial year and has allocated £2.025 million for the 2008-09 financial year. Under the terms and conditions of funding set out by CSU all projects must attract a minimum of 20 per cent. match funding for the projects delivered.
	I have arranged for a list to be placed in the Library detailing all projects delivered in each CSP area for the 2007-09 financial years, how much these cost and a brief description of each.

Departmental Consultants

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 12 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1209W, on departmental consultants, how many external consultants his Department has used in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: My Department including agencies and Executive non-departmental public bodies has used 102 external consultants in the last 12 months.

Departmental Consultants

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 12 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1209W, on departmental consultants, for how long each of the external consultants has worked for his Department.

Shaun Woodward: Information is not held centrally on how long each of the external consultants has worked for my Department and to provide this information would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1319W, on official visits, on which dates he has been in Northern Ireland on official visits in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: As Secretary of State for Northern Ireland I make frequent visits to Northern Ireland.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1319W, on official visits, for how many nights he has stayed in  (a) the Republic of Ireland and  (b) Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The number of days and overnight stays I have spent in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Day  Overnight 
			 October 2007 14 5 
			 November 2007 8 2 
			 December 2007 14 8 
			 January 2008 7 2 
			 February 2008 8 2 
			 March 2008 10 6 
			 April 2008 4 3 
			 May 2008 19 9 
			 June 2008 9 4 
			 July 2008 4 3 
			 August 2008 1 0 
			 September 2008 9 5 
			 October 2008 9 4 
			 November 2008 10 3 
		
	
	The hon. Gentleman will be aware the offices of the Secretary of State are in Belfast and in London; Northern Ireland Office business is conducted in both places. The Secretary of State does not undertake 'visits' to his own office in Northern Ireland.
	Details of visits made by Cabinet Ministers outside the United Kingdom are published annually by the Cabinet Office. Copies are available in the Library.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 30 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1169W, on departmental ICT, what the  (a) expected completion date and  (b) expected cost was at the outset of each project.

Paul Goggins: The additional information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Project name  Original planned completion date  Original estimated cost (£ million) 
			 Causeway Programme December 2006 42.7 
			 Prisoner Record Information System (PRISM)—Technical Refresh March 2010 1.3

Departmental ICT

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1317W, on departmental ICT, what the original cost estimates were for the projects listed.

Paul Goggins: The additional information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Project name  Original estimated cost (£  million) 
			 Causeway Programme 42.7 
			 Prisoner Record Information System (PRISM)—Technical Refresh 1.3

Departmental Manpower

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 882W, on departmental manpower, what the responsibilities are of the people employed by his Department who are not civil servants.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office employs 16.5 people who are not civil servants (measured in full-time equivalents). Of these, 13.5 full-time equivalent staff are employed to undertake duties within the State Pathologist's Office. The remaining staff are employed in the Crown Solicitor's Office and the Public Prosecution Service.

Departmental Official Visits

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1319W, on official visits, on which dates he  (a) has held meetings with the Irish Government and  (b) has been in the Republic of Ireland on official business in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: In the course of my duties, I am in regular contact with the Irish Government.

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies relating to tendered procurement where the tender process has been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: Over the last three years the Northern Ireland Office's Procurement Unit has identified six tenders that were cancelled prior to award of contract.
	In respect of these tenders, there would have been abortive cost in advertising the tender and staff time involved in work on the tender process up to the point of cancellation. In one instance, where the cancellation was subsequently challenged, there were legal costs involved in defending the challenge (which may be recoverable).
	We do not attribute staff costs to individual procurements and therefore cannot determine a cost for this element if the tender process is cancelled prior to contract award.
	Specific costs that we can attribute over the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Advertising costs (based on an average of £550 per tender) 3,300 
			 Legal costs charged to date (which may be recoverable) 6,765

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties.

Shaun Woodward: 28 November 2008.

Departmental Television

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 885-6W, on television, how much his Department spent on licence fees in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The amount spent on television licence fees for the Department in the financial year 2007-08 excluding its Agencies and Executive NDPBs, was £3,248.

Departmental Television

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 885-6W, on television, which companies provided the digital television services.

Shaun Woodward: The companies which provided the digital television services in the answer given of 24 November 2008, were NTL/Virgin Media and Sky.

Departmental Travel

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 882W, on departmental travel, what the travel expenditure was of each of his Executive non-departmental public bodies in the last 12 months; and how many members of staff of such bodies travelled abroad on official business in that period.

Shaun Woodward: This is an operational matter for each of the Northern Ireland Office's Executive non-departmental bodies, who operate independently of Government. I would encourage the hon. Member to write to the respective chief executives. Details of the NIO's non-departmental public bodies can be found in the NIO 2008 departmental report at:
	http://www.nio.gov.uk/northern_ireland_office_departmental_report_2008.pdf

Departmental Vacancies

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vacancies there are in his Department at  (a) administrative officer,  (b) executive officer I,  (c) executive officer II and  (d) staff officer grades, broken down by location.

Shaun Woodward: Within the Northern Ireland Office, grade D1 is equivalent to administrative officer and grade B2 is equivalent to staff officer. Grade C is equivalent to executive officer I and executive officer II. The following table sets out the vacancies for these grades, as reported by business areas in November 2008, broken down by location.
	
		
			  Grade  Location  Vacancies 
			 Grade D1 Belfast 9 
			  Stormont Estate 4 
			  Carrickfergus 2 
			  Lisburn 2 
			  Ballymena 1 
			  Foyle 1 
			 Total  19 
			
			 Grade C Belfast 7 
			  Stormont Estate 1 
			  Ballymena 1 
			 Total  9 
			
			
			 Grade B2   
			  Belfast 5 
			  Carrickfergus 2 
			  Stormont Estate 2 
			 Total  9

Economic Situation

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1210W, on the economic situation, on which dates he has held meetings with business representatives in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: As the hon. Gentleman should be aware, economic issues are largely devolved in Northern Ireland. However, where appropriate, in the course of my duties I have had meetings with business representatives. The detail of some of these meetings are commercially confidential and it would not be appropriate for me to disclose any details.

European Union

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what official visits to Brussels he plans to make in the next 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: Meetings with officials and elected representatives in Brussels will take place as and when necessary.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1319W, on the Northern Ireland Assembly, on which days he had official meetings with members of the Northern Ireland Assembly in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The meetings I have had with members of the Northern Ireland Administration have been and continue to be related to the Government's efforts to complete devolution in Northern Ireland. To that end, it would not be appropriate to discuss details of same. These meetings take place by arrangement any day of the week.

Queen Elizabeth II: Anniversaries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the First Minister and  (b) the Deputy First Minister on Northern Ireland's contribution to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Shaun Woodward: I have not had any discussions with the First Minister or Deputy First Minister about the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen in 2012.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in discussions with the Royal Household about how to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

Queen Elizabeth II: Anniversaries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Shaun Woodward: My Department has not, at this stage, developed plans on how to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen in 2012.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in discussions with the Royal Household about how to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

Religion

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1321W, on religion 
	(1)  with the leaders of which denominations he has had official meetings in the last 12 months;
	(2)  on which days he had official meetings with church leaders in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: I meet with leaders of all of Northern Ireland's main Churches as appropriate.

USA

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1321W, on the USA, how many meetings he has had with members of the incoming US Administration;
	(2)  what meetings he has had with officials of the US Administration in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The United States has played and continues to play a critical role in the political process, further progress towards the devolution of policing and justice, and investment in Northern Ireland. Successive Secretaries of State have worked closely with the United States and maintained regular contact to discuss policy. I continue this policy.

TRANSPORT

A21: East Sussex

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the proposed timetable is for improvements to the A21; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: holding answer 15 December 2008
	As advised in the Secretary of State's announcement on 16 July 2008, the proposed timetable for improvements to the A21 are:
	A21 Tonbridge to Pembury dualling: 2012-13;
	A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst improvement: 2012-13.
	This timetable is subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory processes, the availability of funding, and confirmation of priorities from the current South East England Regional Authority's Regional Funding Allocation advice refresh process.
	The Highways Agency is investigating the potential for an earlier start of works in 2011-12 for the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury scheme.
	There are no dates for the start of works on other A21 schemes.

A46: Nottinghamshire

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of traffic on the A46 in Nottinghamshire was accounted for by heavy goods vehicles in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Clark: In 2007 heavy goods vehicles accounted for about 10 per cent. of traffic on the A46 in Nottinghamshire.
	Traffic data for individual motorways and 'A' roads for 1999 to 2007 are available at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/matrix.

Airports: Security

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when and by what means he plans to take forward the proposals set out by his Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in his speech at the Airport Policing Conference on 12 November 2008.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We have announced our intention to include measures on enhancing airport security in the forthcoming Policing and Crime Bill which will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Aviation: Fuels

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on developing alternative fuels for aircraft.

Jim Fitzpatrick: None specifically on alternative fuels for aircraft but there are two small projects of interest: firstly, earlier this year the Department commissioned a study on carbon reduction options for domestic aviation. We expect to publish this shortly. Additionally the OMEGA project funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFC) has a project investigating the possibilities and barriers for alternative fuels.
	We are aware of the US CAAFI (Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative) and various commercial trials which we are following with interest.

Biofuels

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the written ministerial statement of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 67WS, on the Draft Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Amendment) Order 2009, 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect on UK biofuel producers of correcting the discrepancy in the 2007 Order  (a) for the current obligation period and  (b) for the 2009-10 obligation period;
	(2)  whether Ministers or officials from the Department met representatives of biofuel producers to discuss the Government's response to the discrepancy in the 2007 Order;
	(3)  whether Ministers or officials from the Department met representatives of obligated suppliers to discuss the Government's response to the discrepancy in the 2007 Order;
	(4)  what communications he has had with the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments on correcting the discrepancy in the 2007 Order.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government are currently consulting on proposals for amending the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007 (2007 No. 3072) to rectify the discrepancy issue by extending the definition of "relevant hydrocarbon oil". The Department wrote to stakeholders on 13 November 2008 to inform them of proposals to rectify the discrepancy for the next obligation year (2009-10). Due to the constraints of the primary legal powers the Department is not proposing to deal retrospectively with this issue for the current obligation year (2008-09).
	As a result of the discrepancy the Renewable Fuels Agency estimates that around half of the fossil fuel supplied may not be taken into account in calculating suppliers' renewable transport obligations. The extent of any shortfall in biofuel supplied will not be known until the end of the obligation year.
	Following the identification of the discrepancy the Government informed both obligated and biofuel suppliers about this issue. Officials within the Department for Transport are continuing to engage with these suppliers about the effects of the discrepancy and the proposed solution. The draft amendment order will be subject to the affirmative procedure and the proposal to deal with the discrepancy will be considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments in due course.

Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the additional carbon dioxide emissions which would result from implementation of the European Parliament's proposal to limit emissions from new cars to 120g of carbon dioxide for every kilometre travelled by 2012 if it were to be phased in over three years; and whether eco-innovations are to be included in calculations of progress towards achieving the target limit.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It should be noted that new car carbon dioxide emissions will need to be 130 g/km on average (rather than it being a limit), with the further 10 g/km being delivered from a range of other measures. The phased-in targets (as agreed on 1 December between the European Commission, the European Parliament lead negotiators and the French presidency) still represent a real challenge for industry and will require a significant increase in the rate of fuel efficiency improvements over and above those already seen under the carbon dioxide voluntary agreements. Our analysis shows that there is unlikely to be any difference in overall carbon dioxide savings between this system and the original Commission's proposal which had lower penalties for non-compliance in earlier years.
	Eco-innovations, if properly implemented, will similarly not lead to a change in the overall carbon dioxide emissions from the regulation. Any reduction in g/km carbon dioxide savings measured by the test cycle will need to be matched by additional g/km carbon dioxide savings from the eco-innovations.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue generated by Dartford Crossing tolls has been spent on transport infrastructure projects in the surrounding area in the last five years.

Paul Clark: Since 2003, when the charging scheme was introduced at the Dartford Crossing, the Department for Transport has made available between £1.75 million and £2 million per year to Thurrock council and Kent county council to help deliver local transport projects.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 831-33W, on departmental ICT, what the  (a) expected completion date and  (b) estimated cost was of each of the projects at their outset.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is not undertaking any IT projects.
	The Department for Transport does not hold centrally collected records on IT projects, which are managed locally. The tables therefore show available information on major projects under way within DFT Central and each of its agencies.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to accelerate spending through existing maintenance contracts in line with the Government's plans to increase infrastructure spending.

Paul Clark: holding answer 15 December 2008
	The Highways Agency has been asked to review the potential for accelerating its investment and renewals activity in order to deliver an economic stimulus. The review of priorities is under way and covers major construction projects as well as maintenance activity. Existing contracts are designed to manage a flexible workload to meet such variations.
	The management of maintenance works for local roads is a matter for each local highway authority. My Department provided funding of £2.1 billion to local authorities, in England outside London, as part of the 2007 Local Transport Plan settlement for capital highway maintenance for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. Local authorities have discretion on how to spend this funding. This certainty of funding allows authorities to plan their maintenance to match their local priorities. Funding for local roads in London is a matter for the Mayor.

Departmental Work Experience

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals have worked in his Department on  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid work experience or internships in each of the last three years; on average how many hours a week were worked by such people in each year; what types of work each was involved in; what proportion were in full-time education; what proportion did not complete their set period of work experience; and how much those who received remuneration were paid on average per week in each year.

Geoff Hoon: The central Department and its agencies' employment of  (a) paid work experience or internship placements and  (b) unpaid work experience or internships in each of the past three years is shown in the following table:
	The Highways Agency maintains no central record of the number of students that have been placed in voluntary work experience.
	The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the Driving Standards Agency can provide the information requested only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Department for Transport work experience and internship placements, last three calendar years 
			  Work Experience or Internship  Number of participants  Paid/  u npaid  If  p aid, what weekly wage  Job role and business area  Weekly h ours  Calendar year  In full time education  Individual completed set period 
			 Internship 8 Yes (1)— Administrative 36 2006 Yes Yes 
			 Internship 1 Yes £290 Variety for experience 37 2006 Yes Yes 
			 Internship 7 Yes (1)— Administrative 36 2007 Yes Yes 
			 Internship 2 No n/a IT Support 37 2007 Yes Yes 
			 Internship 2 Yes (1)— Administrative 36 2008 Yes Yes 
			 Internship 2 No n/a IT Support 37 2008 Yes Yes 
			 Work experience 15 No n/a Administrative 37 2006 Yes Yes 
			 Work experience 1 No n/a Sorting mail 15 2007 Yes Yes 
			 Work Experience 1 No n/a Administrative 35 2007 Yes Yes 
			 Work experience 18 No n/a Administrative 37 2007 Yes Yes 
			 Work experience 1 No n/a Sorting mail 15 2008 Yes Yes 
			 Work experience 21 No n/a Administrative 37 2008 Yes Yes 
			 (1) Unavailable: Responsibility delegated to the line and not held centrally. 
		
	
	Opportunities to undertake paid and unpaid work experience are provided by individual Government Departments as a means of providing an introduction to the Civil Service and a way of helping individuals to make longer-term career decisions.
	Some work experience schemes are aimed at individuals with an interest in a specific area or profession such as the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the Government Legal Service. Others, such as the diversity internship programme which has the summer placement scheme for individuals with a registered disability and the summer development programme for individuals from a minority ethnic background, are available for graduates or undergraduates who might be considering the fast stream scheme.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the number of taxed and insured cars that are regularly driven by a driver not included on the insurance certificate.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 8 December 2008
	A vehicle may be driven by the main policy holder, a named driver on his or her policy, or by any driver whose policy has a clause that allows that driver to drive any other vehicle with the owner's permission (commonly referred to as DOV cover) on a third-party liability basis.
	No information is kept on the number of vehicles that are driven by a person who is not named on the insurance certificate.
	We estimate around 2.2 million vehicles are being driven uninsured. The wider issue of uninsured driving is being tackled through a number of measures—for example police powers to seize uninsured vehicles and/or court prosecution.

Heathrow Airport

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government will revise their modelling of the economic case for a third runway at Heathrow to take account of the most recent estimates from the International Energy Agency of oil prices in 2030.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The estimated net benefits of additional capacity at Heathrow will be updated in the impact assessment that will be published alongside the 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' decision, in January 2009.
	The Department for Transport's forecasts use projections of oil prices from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). BERR's most recent projections (May 2008) are available at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file46071.pdf.
	The IEA 'World Energy Outlook 2008' report projects a price of $120 per barrel in 2030 (expressed in 2007 prices). This falls within the BERR range of $45-$150 per barrel.

Higher Civil Servants

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department paid in annual basic wages to staff in senior civil service grades at 31 March  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007.

Geoff Hoon: The annual basic wages of senior civil servants in the Department for Transport at 31 March 2006 and 31 March 2007 were £14,299,021 and £15,224,781 respectively.

Lorries: Standards

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prohibitions have been issued to heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)  (a) with mechanical defects,  (b) that are overweight and  (c) where drivers' hours have been exceeded in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) region where the accident took place, (ii) the HGV's country of origin and (iii) whether the HGV was left or right-hand drive.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) was formed in April 2003.
	The number of prohibitions issued to heavy goods vehicles  (a) with mechanical defects,  (b) that are overweight and  (c) where drivers' hours have been exceeded since 2003, broken down by (i) region, (ii) heavy goods vehicles country of origin has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	VOSA does not record details of whether a prohibition notice is issued to a left or right-hand drive vehicle.

Motor Vehicles: Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the  (a) front and  (b) rear seat belt wearing rates were among (i) males and (ii) females in each age group in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1584W. The results from the October 2008 seat belt wearing survey will be published as soon as practicable. As before, they will be available free of charge from the TRL website.

Railways: Fares

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what fare structure will operate on the domestic rail service between Ebbsfleet and London St Pancras starting in December 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The fares structure for Southeastern's domestic high speed services is set out in the Franchise Agreement.
	Southeastern have created two sets of fares between London and Gravesend, one set being valid on any permitted route, which includes High Speed 1, and the other not valid on High Speed 1.
	A premium may be applied to the fares which are valid on High Speed 1 at Southeastern's discretion, subject to a cap. For fares between Ebbsfleet and any London station, the fare will be the appropriate "not HS1" fare plus a maximum of 35 per cent.
	Southeastern has not notified the Department for Transport of the final level of premium.

Road Traffic: Halton

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects on the north-west road network of a temporary closure of the Silver Jubilee bridge in Halton lasting  (a) one week,  (b) two weeks and  (c) one month.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is not aware of any scheduled temporary closures of the bridge. The management of the Silver Jubilee bridge is a matter for Halton borough council.
	However, as part of the Department's value for money (VfM) assessment of a business case submitted by Halton borough council in 2006 for funding towards a major maintenance scheme on the Silver Jubilee bridge, we assessed the authority's estimate of the effect of a permanent closure of the bridge against the proposed maintenance work. Temporary closures were not assessed.

Roads: Accidents

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported deaths there were in  (a) the East Riding of Yorkshire,  (b) South Yorkshire,  (c) North Yorkshire and  (d) West Yorkshire as a result of traffic accidents in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of fatalities resulting from reported personal injury road accidents for the each of the last 10 years in  (a) the East Riding of Yorkshire,  (b) South Yorkshire,  (c) North Yorkshire and  (d) West Yorkshire are given in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of fatalities 
			   East Riding of Yorkshire  South Yorkshire  North Yorkshire  West Yorkshire 
			 1998 33 56 88 106 
			 1999 42 50 68 111 
			 2000 21 62 90 120 
			 2001 24 51 82 144 
			 2002 36 63 95 115 
			 2003 25 65 88 102 
			 2004 34 56 80 116 
			 2005 31 47 85 99 
			 2006 26 71 69 113 
			 2007 28 48 81 103

Southeastern: Ticketing

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to enable the roll-out of a smart card ticketing scheme on the Southeastern rail network capable of operating alongside Transport for London's Oyster card system; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport, Transport for London and train operators are working together on the acceptance of Oyster Pay as You Go on rail services in the London Travelcard Zones and the acceptance of ITSO Smartcards on Oyster equipment. Commercial and contractual negotiations are taking place.

West Coast Railway Line

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the planned west coast main line improvements.

Paul Clark: The estimated full cost for the upgrade of the west coast main line remains £9.9 billion as set in the 2003 Government Strategy for the route. £8.8 billion has been spent to date and £1 billion is being provided for the 2009 to 2014 period for power supplies, Stafford and Bletchley works.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Boilers: Safety

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to ensure that boilers  (a) are being fitted to the specifications of building regulations and  (b) checked regularly to prevent deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning;
	(2)  if she will consider bringing forward legislative proposals to make the installation of carbon monoxide alarms a legal requirement  (a) in publicly-owned housing and  (b) in the construction of all new homes.

Iain Wright: Our priority is to prevent exposure to carbon monoxide in the first place. Building regulations are in place to ensure appliances are safely installed and properly ventilated. Carbon monoxide detectors and alarms will never be a substitute for proper installation and maintenance of combustion appliances.
	Part J of the Building Regulations 2000 (Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems) sets requirements for an adequate supply of air for combustion and for adequate provision for the discharge of the products of combustion to the outside air. The regulations in England and Wales are inspected and enforced by building control bodies. My Department has also authorised a number of competent person self-certification schemes which help ensure that installers are aware of the standards applicable to boiler installation and are competent to install boilers to those standards. Competent person scheme operators monitor the work of their members to make sure it complies with the requirements.
	Private landlords are responsible for maintaining their properties, including the safety of gas and electrical appliances and the fire safety of furniture and furnishings provided under the tenancy. All private landlords are required by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to ensure that all gas appliances are maintained in good order and that an annual gas safety check is carried out by a registered tradesman. This requirement is enforced by the local authority.
	We expect to let a research contract early in the new year to look at the changes and developments that have taken place in relation to carbon monoxide detectors since our last review in 2002. The findings of this work will feed into a formal consultation on Part J which we intend to publish in mid-2009.

Council Tax: Arrears

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local authorities may take steps to recover council tax arrears without using private companies.

John Healey: The Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Tax Billing, Collection and Enforcement Functions) Order 1996 allows local authorities to contract out the collection and enforcement of council tax. However, it is a matter for each individual local authority whether they do so.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) letters and  (b) e-mails received by her Department had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008.

Sadiq Khan: This information is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 5 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 545-6W, on Departmental ICT, what the  (a) expected completion date and  (b) expected cost was at the outset of each project.

Sadiq Khan: The required information for the relevant projects is as follows:
	
		
			  Communities and Local Government (including regional co-ordination unit and Government offices in the regions) 
			  Project  Expected completion date at the outset of the project  Expected costs at the outset of the project (£000) 
			 Website Rationalisation (incorporating Info41ocal Rebuild project) June 2008 3,200 
			 Fire Incident Recording System December 2006 1,300 
			 Data Interchange Hub Release 2 March 2009 1,273 
			 EDRMS December 2006 699 
			 SAP Implementing Benefits February 2009 364 
			 Smarter Business Process (SAP Enhancement) April 2008 350 
			 Business Intelligence System Technical Upgrade February 2009 351 
			 PIMS HR e-Strategy Implementation October 2008 303 
			 Government Offices National Indicator Analysis tool—scoping December 2008 62 
			 Government Offices Human Resources Database—Phase 2 March 2009 241 
			 Government Offices Online Performance Management System—Phase 2 March 2009 82 
			 Government Offices Contacts Database March 2009 40 
		
	
	
		
			  Agencies of the Department 
			  Project  Expected completion date at the outset of the project  Expected costs at the outset of the project (£000) 
			  Planning Inspectorate   
			 Fast Track Householder Appeals—Stage 2 (Implementation) May 2009 175 
			 Business Continuity Planning (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DR) January 2009 142 
			 Charging for Appeals April 2009 100 
			
			  QEII Conference Centre   
			 Meeting Matrix September 2007 65

Departmental ICT

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil servants in her Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since its inception.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not investigated, suspended or dismissed any civil servants for losing or deliberately disclosing either confidential information or data stored on departmental equipment since its inception.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2006-07 and  (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices.

Sadiq Khan: All spending on official entertainment is made in accordance with the principles set out in "Managing Public Money". However, obtaining the information required by the hon. Member would incur disproportionate cost.

Fire Services: Floods

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to implement the recommendations of the Pitt review on a statutory obligation for fire services to respond to flooding incidents.

Sadiq Khan: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 17 December 2008. A copy of the full Government response has been placed in the Library of the House.

Green belt: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will meet the hon. Member for Castle Point and a delegation of borough councillors to discuss green belt preservation in Castle Point borough.

Iain Wright: If the hon. Member writes to me setting out the specific issues he would like to discuss, I will be happy to consider whether such a meeting would be appropriate in light of the Secretary of State's formal role in the planning system. The Government's policy on green belt is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2.

Homelessness: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homeless  (a) children and  (b) adults in each local authority in Essex are currently placed in temporary accommodation outside their borough; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 58-60W.

Homelessness: Reading Berkshire

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were recorded as  (a) homeless and  (b) rough sleepers in the Reading borough council area during the month of December in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected quarterly at local authority level. Data collected include the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to ensure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	The question asks for figures for the month of December. The total number of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty ('acceptances') are collected on a quarterly basis and not broken down to a monthly level, and therefore our figures cover the period October to December. Numbers in temporary accommodation are as of 31 December for each year.
	The following table lists the number of acceptances and number of households in temporary accommodation for Reading local authority, in quarter four 1998 to 2008;
	
		
			   Number of acceptances October-December  Households in temporary accommodation on 31 December 
			 1998 121 388 
			 1999 88 1— 
			 2000 116 441 
			 2001 105 477 
			 2002 91 448 
			 2003 70 339 
			 2004 51 239 
			 2005 69 214 
			 2006 39 177 
			 2007 39 144 
			 (1) Denotes data not reported by authority 
		
	
	Annual rough sleeping figures for Reading borough council have been collected since 1998 and are published yearly in September. The figures are based on local authority street counts.
	
		
			   Number of rough sleepers in Reading borough council 
			 1998 13 
			 1999 5 
			 2000 9 
			 2001 18 
			 2002 7 
			 2003 4 
			 2004 6 
			 2005 11 
			 2006 2 
			 2007 15 
			 2008 6

Homelessness: Reading Berkshire

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was allocated to Reading borough council for tackling homelessness in each of the last 10 years; and what information her Department holds on how that funding has been spent.

Iain Wright: Revenue funding for local authority homelessness services is principally provided through revenue support grant which is unhypothecated. The Government additionally provide homelessness grants to support all local housing authorities' strategies for tackling and preventing all forms of homelessness, including rough sleeping.
	The following table shows total allocations of homelessness grant to Reading borough council for each of the years from 2003-04 to 2008-09.
	
		
			   Homelessness  g rant (£) 
			 2003-04 393,339 
			 2004-05 250,000 
			 2005-06 250,000 
			 2006-07 250,000 
			 2007-08 250,000 
			 2008-09 (1)250,000 
			 (1) To date 
		
	
	Prior to 2003-04 funding was given direct to voluntary organisations. The Department did not provide any direct funding to voluntary organisations in Reading.
	In 2003 every local authority was required to put in place a homelessness strategy to prevent homelessness and provide accommodation and support. It is for local authorities to decide how to use their homelessness grant to effectively deliver their strategies.
	Reading borough council also received £878,000 of Hostels Capital Improvement Programme funding over three years to 2007-08.
	On 5 December 2007, we announced homelessness grant funding of at least £150 million over the three years 2008-11 to continue to support local authorities to tackle and prevent homelessness. This is the biggest ever cash injection for homelessness services.

Homelessness: Reading Berkshire

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many rough sleepers there were in the Reading borough council area in the latest period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: The latest official figures published in September 2008 show six rough sleepers were found in the street count carried out by Reading borough council.

Housing

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes have been built in each constituency in England in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information on new build completions by constituency is not held centrally.
	A table showing house building completions in each local authority in England in each year since 1997 has been placed in the Library of the House.

Housing: Construction

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she has had with the boards of housing review areas on new house building projects in their areas since 1 April 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no meetings since April 2008 with representatives of Housing Market Renewal pathfinders to discuss new build projects. However, I have met with Housing Market Renewal pathfinders on three occasions since April 2008 to discuss a range of issues relevant to their work programme.

Housing: Immigrants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the proportion of unmet demand for housing which arises as a result of net immigration; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Mr. Lilley) on 16 January 2008,  Official Report, column 259W.

Housing: Immigrants

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her most recent assessment is of the impact of net migration on housing demand in England over  (a) the next 20 years and  (b) periods beyond 20 years; and when she next expects to revise those assessments.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1396-97W.
	Projections have not been made beyond 2026.
	New 2006-based household projections are expected to be published in 2009. These will be based on the 2006-based population projections produced by the Office for National Statistics.

Housing: Low Incomes

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will provide a breakdown by funding stream of the £775 million being brought forward from the 2010-11 budget for affordable housing in each Government office region.

Iain Wright: Over £8 billion has been allocated for the National Affordable Housing Programme over the Spending Review period 2008-11. £150 million is being brought forward from the 2010-11 budget and is being allocated to individual regions on a pro rata basis in line with the formulaic allocation of the funding over the whole 2008-11 period as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 East 14.2 
			 East Midlands 6.2 
			 London 62.5 
			 North East 3.2 
			 North West 10.2 
			 South East 24.3 
			 South West 14.3 
			 West Midlands 9.0 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 6.2 
		
	
	These are indicative figures and do not impact on the overall three-year indicative allocations to regions. The spending of the allocations will be subject to appropriate bids being agreed and delivered through the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
	Regional Development Agencies will consider bringing forward, from 2010-11, up to £100 million nationally to provide a fiscal stimulus to regional and economic development. They are working closely with the HCA to see how bringing forward funding can make the greatest impact, whilst representing best value on key regeneration schemes that have been highlighted as being at risk.
	A further £80 million in 2009-10 will assist the HCA with continuing to bring forward land development schemes of national and regional importance. The HCA will ensure this additional funding is concentrated on those schemes which provide the greatest impact and value for money. The HCA is currently reviewing with my officials which schemes to assist. Decisions will be made in the new year about the process for bringing forward some £250 million Decent Homes and £175 million major repairs allowance funding from 2010-11.
	Some £20 million funding for the Community Infrastructure Fund will also be brought forward into the current financial year, for schemes in the following regions:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 East 4.8 
			 East Midlands 10 
			 London 1.3 
			 South East 3.6 
			 Unallocated 4.2

Housing: Regeneration

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many new build properties were built in each Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder area in 2007-08; and what amount of central grant contribution was made  (a) towards each new build unit and  (b) across the programme;
	(2)  how many properties were refurbished in each Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder area in 2007-08; and what the average cost of refurbishment was  (a) in each Pathfinder area and  (b) across the programme;
	(3)  how many properties were demolished in each Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder area in 2007-08; and what the average cost of demolition was  (a) in each Pathfinder area and  (b) across the programme;
	(4)  how many properties were acquired in each Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder area in 2007-08; and what the average cost of acquisition was  (a) in each Pathfinder and  (b) across the programme.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 990W. Information on average costs is not held in a readily available format and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing: Repairs and Maintenance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what support her Department is providing for home improvement agencies; what the contribution is of the Supporting People budget to the work of such agencies; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the resources available to assist people seeking to modify their homes in order to be able to remain resident in them.

Iain Wright: The Government recognise the importance of adequate resources being made available to provide home adaptations enabling vulnerable people to remain living comfortably and safely in their homes. We have made additional funding of over £30 million available from 2009 which will go to support local agencies, such as home improvement agencies (HIAs), to help older people with minor repairs and adaptations. This is one of a number of initiatives for the promotion and development of HIAs and better home repairs and adaptations services included in 'Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods—A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society', published earlier this year, addressing the housing and related service needs of older people.
	My Department has provided new funding for a three-year contract for a national body for HIAs from September 2008 for development of the HIA sector. We have also sponsored a future home improvement agency project, the findings of which were published in September. This project aims to set out a broad agenda for the evolution of the HIA sector to its next level. As a way of encouraging and developing HIAs and their work, it highlights what is already being done well by HIAs and suggests models for wider application.
	The Government also recognise the importance of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) programme in enabling people to live as comfortably and independently as possible in their homes, which is why funding in this area has increased significantly. Funding since 1997 has more than doubled from £57 million to £146 million in 2008. The budget will rise by a further £10 million in the next two years increasing to £166 million by 2010, an increase of over 30 per cent. However, the DFG budget should not be seen as the sole source of funding for adaptations, and local authorities are expected to also contribute towards these costs as they have always done.
	In addition, the Government's Supporting People (SP) programme allows local authorities to fund handy person schemes for their local area if an authority wishes to do so. In 2006-07 there was a local authority spend on HIAs through SP funding of over £15.413 million. The SP ring-fenced grant conditions will be removed from 2009-10 to enable local authorities to better meet the needs of vulnerable clients, including older people, by the use of more flexible innovative services.

Housing: Sales

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment has been made of the level of potential duplication between property information questionnaires and questions asked later in the conveyancing process.

Iain Wright: The property information questionnaire will provide buyers, right at the start of the buying process, with the basic, useful information about a property that will help to inform their decision to view a property or make an offer. It will also act as a 'trigger' for seeking more information further down the line.
	It is not intended to replace the checks and assurances undertaken by property professionals as the transaction is finalised.

Housing: Standards

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures are in place to ensure that buyers of new homes do not face unforeseen construction faults.

Iain Wright: Purchasers of new build homes in most cases are afforded protection through the provision of measures such as warranties. Under the terms of a typical warranty, the builder is responsible for putting right any defects caused by breaches of any technical requirements for the first two years (from completion). From years three to 10 the warranty provides insurance against the cost of repairing certain specified defects. In addition, existing contract law offers avenues of redress for purchasers of new build homes who are dissatisfied with the performance of the homebuilder under the terms of their contract. The buyer can either take action through the courts for monetary compensation or to have the contract performed properly.
	However, a recent Office of Fair Trading report found room for improvement in the arena of new-build consumer protection. The OFT has since been working with the homebuilding industry to help it develop a new approach to self-regulation to improve consumer protection together with a new body to administer the protection process. This is intended to be fully operational by March 2010.

Local Authorities: Skin Piercing

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have adopted the Local Government Act 2003 byelaws in respect of cosmetic body piercing.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department has confirmed cosmetic piercing byelaws have been adopted by 102 local authorities to date.

Mersey Gateway

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to announce her decision on Halton council's capitalisation bid for the Mersey Gateway.

John Healey: In line with the timetable set out in the Government's guidance, the Department expects to announce the decision on Halton borough council's capitalisation bid for the Mersey Gateway by the end of January 2009.

Microgeneration

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  with reference to the written ministerial statement of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 20-21WS, on town and country planning, what progress the Government have made in implementing permitted development rights for air source heat pumps and micro-wind turbines;
	(2)  when she plans to bring forward delegated legislation to allow air source heat pumps and micro-wind turbines into the permitted development system.

Iain Wright: The Prime Minister has received two recent letters from members of the public on the noise thresholds under permitted development for householder air-source heat pumps and micro-wind turbines. The Government are committed to permitting the installation of small wind turbines and air source heat pumps without the need for a planning application. However it is important we set the right criteria for noise levels for wind turbines and pumps on homes under permitted development and resolve the issue of possible interference with aviation communication systems. The Minister for Housing and Planning will make a statement to Parliament in the new year.

Mortgages: Repossession Orders

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received from tenants' groups on the rights of tenants in circumstances where the property they occupy is being purchased via a buy-to-let scheme and repossession proceedings are taking place; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: We have not received representations from groups directly representative of private tenants. Several voluntary groups with a clear tenant focus have contacted the Department to express concern about the rights of tenants of privately rented properties where the landlord has failed to keep up with mortgage repayments and is in the process of being repossessed. We are considering these issues as we develop the detail of our repossession package alongside our response to Julie Rugg's independent review of the private rented sector which also reflects on this issue.

Multiple Occupation: Licensing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 30 January 2008,  Official Report, column 446W, on multiple occupation: licensing, if she will place in the Library a copy of each piece of written guidance on best practice produced by the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services in support of mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation.

Iain Wright: Copies of each piece of written guidance on best practice produced by the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORs) in support of mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are available from
	www.lacors.gov.uk

Multiple Occupation: Licensing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 30 January 2008,  Official Report, column 446W, on multiple occupation: licensing, if she will place in the Library a copy of the advice and guidance on best practice in relation to regulation of private sector landlords to which the answer refers.

Iain Wright: Copies of each piece of written advice and guidance on best practice produced by the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORs) in relation to regulation of private sector landlords are available from
	www.lacors.gov.uk.

Multiple Occupation: Licensing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her answer of 28 January 2008,  Official Report, column 119W, on multiple occupation: licensing, for what reasons her Department has no plans to establish a central record of offences committed under mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation.

Iain Wright: Implementation of the houses in multiple occupation (HMO) licensing provisions, including enforcement action, is conducted at a local level. Local authorities are under a statutory duty to prosecute those landlords that do not comply with the legislation, and therefore there is no formal role for central Government in this process.

Regeneration: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the cross-departmental working group on coastal towns has met since February 2008; where each meeting was held; who attended each meeting; and what the outcomes of each meeting were.

John Healey: The cross-departmental working group has met once since February 2008 on 23 July 2008. The next meeting is scheduled for January 2009.
	The 23 July meeting was held at CLG headquarters at Eland House, London. In addition to CLG officials, it was attended by officials from the following Departments and organisations.
	BERR
	DEFRA
	DCMS
	DIUS
	DOH
	DWP
	Commission for Rural Communities
	Environment Agency
	Government Office for the South East
	Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government
	South East Economic Development Agency
	Margate Renewal Partnership
	Thanet District Council
	Professor Steve Fothergill, Sheffield Hallam University
	The main outcomes from the meeting were:
	agreement to publish the results of a benchmarking exercise of seaside towns, undertaken for CLG by Professor Steve Fothergill;
	in partnership with the RDA-led Coastal Towns Network, to set up two sub-groups to improve the evidence-base on the challenges and opportunities facing coastal towns. One sub- group is looking at the role of strategic mechanisms and approaches like local area agreements and sub-regional partnerships in improving coastal town regeneration outcomes. The other sub-group is looking at options for raising employment and skill levels in coastal locations; and
	to invite Departments and agencies represented on the working group to provide updates on current and proposed initiatives relevant to the support of regeneration and sustainable development in coastal towns.

Regional Planning and Development: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will extend the deadline for the payment of £200,000 in respect of the timely submission of Castle Point's Local Development Framework to allow for public consultation; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Local planning authorities are rewarded under Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) for submitting their development plan documents on time according to the timetable set out in their local development scheme (LDS). LDS timetables are decided by local planning authorities who should have built full provision for public consultation within their LDS timetable. Grant is reduced where documents are not submitted in accordance with the LDS.
	The grant award to authorities depends on the number of plans submitted overall, so while £200,000 was paid in the current financial year the amount may well be different next year.

Regional Planning and Development: Retail Trade

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if her Department will encourage Newcastle city council to bring forward development briefs for retail developments in Newcastle upon Tyne as a way of stimulating local economic activity within sustainable communities in the city.

Iain Wright: In the pre-Budget report, the Government introduced new measures to bring forward £3 billion of capital spending from 2010-11 to 2009-10. The outcome of bringing forward public investment will impact directly on economic activity in the UK, in particular supporting the construction sector.
	Local authorities have an important role to play in driving local economic development in their area, building on their place shaping role and we would encourage authorities to look at how they can support their local communities and local business during the economic downturn.
	It is not Government policy, however, to intervene in such a specific way to influence local authorities regarding the detail of how they stimulate their local economies. We are keeping in close contact with them to understand the issues facing them, the actions they are taking and any support required by central Government. We are currently keeping all significant infrastructure projects, including retail developments, under review through the Regional Minister and the Council of Regional Ministers.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the use of the single farm payment to finance flood mitigation measures.

Huw Irranca-Davies: We have not commissioned or evaluated any research on use of the single farm payment to finance flood mitigation measures.

Animal Welfare

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 16 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 968-9W, on the Animal Welfare Act 2006, when he expects the secondary legislation to which it referred will be introduced.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 15 December 2008
	DEFRA keeps under review the timetable of secondary legislation. The following table provides a list of made and proposed secondary legislation and codes.
	
		
			  Secondary legislation  Date into force 
			 The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 6 April 2007 
			 The Docking of Working Dogs' Tails (England) Regulations 2007 6 April 2007 
			 The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 3 June 2008 
			 Commencement order bringing into force offences relating to the recording of animal fights 6 April 2009 
			 Welfare code of practice on cats 6 April 2009 
			 Welfare code of practice on dogs 6 April 2009 
			 Welfare code of practice on equines 6 April 2009 
			 Welfare code of practice on private keeping of primates 1 October 2009 
			 Welfare code of practice on the rearing of gamebirds 1 October 2009 
			 Regulations on the welfare of racing greyhounds 6 April 2010

Animal Welfare: Game

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account his Department will take of the recommendations from the Farm Animal Welfare Council on the welfare of farmed game birds in its preparation of a code of practice on the rearing and breeding of game birds.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA is in the process of setting up a working group to draft a code of practice, to be made under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, which will offer guidance to owners and keepers on how to meet their statutory responsibility to provide for the welfare needs of their animals.
	The Farm Animal Welfare Council opinion on certain management techniques will help to inform the working group.

Animal Welfare: Game

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to include farmed game birds under the protection offered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Jane Kennedy: Game birds reared for sporting purposes, prior to their release, are already covered by the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the "2006 Act"), as they are animals under the control of man.

Badgers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions there have been for illegal actions relating to badgers in each of the last five years; how many of these were successful; and what guidelines he issues to police forces on this issue.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government believe that the cruel treatment of badgers is unacceptable and have put in place comprehensive legislation, including the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, to protect them. The Government also provide funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit, which provides advice for police forces on the detection and investigation of wildlife crime. The police have primary responsibility for the investigation and enforcement of offences against badgers and all forces have officers who have responsibility for investigating wildlife offences.
	The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences relating to the Protection of Badgers Act, sections 1(1), 1(3), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(c), 4, 5, and 10 (8), for the years 2003 to 2007 can be viewed in the following table.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  N umber of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Protection for Badgers Act 1992, sections 1(1), 1(3),  2(1)(a), 2(1)(c), 4, 5, and 10  (8) in England and Wales for the years 2003 to 2007( 1, 2, )( 3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 2003 10 4 
			 2004 12 4 
			 2005 23 11 
			 2006 10 3 
			 2007 20 6 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions: Wilfully killing badger Wilfully injuring badger Wilfully taking badger Wilfully attempting to kill badger Wilfully attempting to injure badger Wilfully attempting to take badger Ill-treating badger Digging for badger Selling live badger Offering to sell live badger Unlawfully marking badger Unlawfully attaching ring tag or marking device to badger Possessing or controlling thing derived from dead badger Possessing or controlling live badger Failing to comply with condition of licence.  Source: OCJR—E & A: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit.

Bees

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the possible effects of the use of wireless technology on bee populations.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA has made no assessment of the possible effects of the use of wireless technology on the bee population.

British Waterways

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the effect of the sale of British Waterways' property portfolio on the finances of British Waterways;
	(2)  what plans are in place for selling the property portfolio of British Waterways; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what the timetable is for the sale of British Waterways' property portfolio;
	(4)  if he will bring forward proposals to compensate British Waterways for the reduction in annual income from its property portfolio if its property is sold.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 16 December 2008
	The Treasury operational efficiency programme review will consider the scope for improved asset management across Government and will provide an update on progress by the April 2009 Budget. The scope of this review will include British Waterways' non-operational property portfolio, and business model, to consider how its assets might best deliver public value. The review will also consider any implications of options considered for the long-term funding of British Waterways' statutory responsibilities carefully. No conclusions have yet been drawn regarding any possible disposal of British Waterways' property portfolio.

Charities

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to which charities his Department has provided funding of more than £100,000 in each of the last three years; and how much was provided to each.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 11 December 2008
	The Department does not hold such information centrally. The level of detail requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Christmas

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on  (a) departmental Christmas parties and  (b) staff entertainment in the last three years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA does not pay for Christmas parties for staff. The core Department's financial system does not recognise the expenditure categories of staff entertainment or entertainment.

Consumer Council for Water

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason he has decided to review the Consumer Council for Water.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Government wish to ensure the best arrangements are in place for consumer representation for water and sewerage customers and are considering whether the new arrangements put in place for the energy and postal sectors on 1 October 2008 may also offer an improved service for the water sector.
	We are considering the options, which include passing responsibility for handling complaints not resolved by water companies to a new redress scheme for water consumers, and merging the Consumer Council for Water with Consumer Focus; or retaining the existing arrangements.
	There will be detailed public consultation on a number of possible scenarios before a decision is made.

Consumer Council for Water

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role the Consumer Council for Water has in the regular Ofwat review of charges.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The role of the Consumer Council for Water is to ensure that the views of water consumers are recognised, considered and acted upon.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many new  (a) laptops,  (b) mobile telephones and  (c) personal digital assistant devices his Department bought for the use of departmental Ministers following each change in Ministers since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA was formed in June 2001, and the Department supplies Ministers with laptops, mobile phones and PDAs on request.
	Under current contracts, all departmental computer equipment is owned by IBM, and configured only to work on the DEFRA platform. Departmental mobile phones are under contract with Vodaphone, and IBM maintains all the departmental PDAs which are configured to only work to departmental e-mail addresses.
	All equipment issued is returned at the end of any ministerial tenure, and reconfigured and reused within the Department wherever possible. One mobile phone, two PDAs, and three laptops are currently being used by departmental Ministers.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2006-07 and  (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices.

Huw Irranca-Davies: From information held centrally the core Department spent the following sums on ministerial hospitality for the years in question expressed in current prices taking 2004 as the base year:
	
		
			   Expenditure (£) 
			 2004-05 15,521.31 
			 2005-06 18,445.98 
			 2006-07 13,346.71 
			 2007-08 4,906.65

Departmental Property

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on maintaining its domestic properties in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 10 December 2008
	 The Department has expended the following amounts on maintaining its residential dwellings in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004 18,104 
			 2005 107,131 
			 2006 24,378 
			 2007 22,938 
			 2008 26,997 
		
	
	The figure for 2005 includes the Department's contractually agreed contribution to the Warwick Horticultural Research Institute's (HRI) cost in backlog maintenance of its cottages at Wellesbourne, Warwickshire. Prior to the transfer to the new ownership in March 2004, the dwellings were held by DEFRA and were used to house staff working for the HRI.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much expenditure his Department incurred in respect of  (a) Balmoral Transport Service,  (b) MC Chauffeurs and  (c) Stratstone in 2007-08; and to what purpose.

Huw Irranca-Davies: From information held centrally, the expenditure information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Supplier  Purpose  Expenditure (£) 
			 Balmoral Transport Service Car Transport for Minister 245.00 
			 MC Chauffeurs Car Transport for Ministers, Officials 1740.21 
			 Stratstone — Nil

Flood Control

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, column 614W, on flood control, what the  (a) original planned and  (b) actual completion date of completed flood protection schemes was in each of the last five years; and what the original planned completion date was of each flood protection scheme which had not been completed by that date.

Huw Irranca-Davies: From 2004 to 2008 the Environment Agency's National Capital Programme Management Service (NCPMS) was responsible for a total of 146 completed projects. Of these, 83 were completed early or on time and 63 were completed after the expected date. Information prior to 2004 is not available as records were not held centrally.
	Details of the projects have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional flood defences commissioned since the floods in July 2007 his Department  (a) has had built and  (b) is having built.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Since the floods in July 2007 49 projects have been completed by the Environment Agency and 143 projects are under instruction. This includes many places which were flooded in the summer of 2007.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to increase the level of preparedness of the public to manage incidents of flooding in the course of implementation of the recommendations made in the Pitt report on flooding.

Huw Irranca-Davies: We have already taken a number of steps in response to Sir Michael Pitt's findings and will be publishing a detailed response setting out implementation to date and further actions shortly.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to announce a programme for the implementation of the recommendations contained in Sir Michael Pitt's final report on the 2007 floods.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Government's detailed response to the Pitt review will be published shortly.

Floods and Water Bill

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his plans for the proposed Floods and Water Bill is to be published.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 9 December 2008,  Official Report, column 39W.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many individual test sites were involved in the Part B consents for experimental releases of genetically modified organisms under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (England) Regulations 2002; how many consents were granted and still valid in England between January 2000 and the present; and if he will place in the Library a list of all such sites.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The information my department has available regarding individual test sites is the number of different six-figure grid references notified by consent holders, which amounts to 562 in England. Some of these sites were used more than once under a particular consent or the same site was notified for use under more than one consent.
	41 consents have been granted in England since January 2000 of which four are still valid. Details of these can be found in the list of all the part B consents granted under Directive 90/220/EEC on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/exper.htm.
	Those granted under Directive 2001/18/EC can be found at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/consents/index.htm
	A list of active part B consents with their test sites can be found on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/pdf/trials-rev080708.pdf

Genetically Modified Organisms

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to support at EU level proposals for competent authorities to create GM-free zones.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 16 December 2008
	Earlier this month the EU Environment Council adopted a set of written conclusions on various GM-related issues, including GM-free zones. The relevant text of the conclusions states that:
	"(The Council) notes that GMO-free zones can be created on the basis of voluntary agreement which, in line with relevant national law, could be tacit between the economic operators concerned in the area in question and that in order to ensure freedom of choice all concerned operators must be properly informed about an intention to create the GMO-free zone."
	The UK supported the adoption of the conclusions.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy that all future field trials of genetically-modified crops in the UK shall be carried out at Porton Down or another high security establishment suitable for testing potentially harmful organisms.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 16 December 2008
	 Genetically-modified crop trials will only be authorised if a robust assessment demonstrates that, with appropriate risk management controls in place, no adverse effects on human health and the environment would be expected. As such, it would not be necessary to require that approved trials are conducted in establishments suitable for testing potentially harmful organisms.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports he has received of cases  (a) in the UK and  (b) elsewhere of animal deaths in connection with the consumption of the foliage of genetically-modified Bt cotton plants.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 16 December 2008
	 The only report we are aware of is that in India sheep in particular have died after grazing on the stubble of GM cotton crops. We understand that this matter has been considered by the Indian authorities, who have not identified any basis for concluding that the deaths were caused by a specific toxic effect of the GM plants.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many sites were used in England for the farm scale evaluations (FSE) of genetically modified organisms from January 2000; how many were vandalised; whether, in each case of vandalism, the trials produced data which was used in the final analysis of the FSE results; and if he will list in each case the  (a) crop,  (b) location,  (c) six figure map reference and  (d) Part B consent number, where appropriate.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The farm-scale evaluations involved 256 plantings in England after January 2000, in addition to the first three sites planted in the autumn of 1999. A list of all the FSE sites can be found on the web at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/fse/location/index.htm
	41 plantings were vandalised and of these, eight were terminated and 33 continued to be used in the evaluations. A list of vandalised sites is as follows:
	
		
			  Local Village / Town or Parish  Grid ref  Part B consent ref.  Crop type  Vandalism 
			 Norfolk - Great Moulton TM 165 902 01/R33/11 Oilseed rape (winter) (1)— 
			 Dorset - Hilton ST 788 028 00/R33/09 Oilseed rape (spring) (2)— 
			 Norfolk -Bradenham TF 940 087 99/R22/16 Sugar beet (2)— 
			 Norfolk -Raynham (East Raynham) TF 893 262 99/R22/16 Sugar beet (2)— 
			 Dorset -Bincombe SY 680 822 — Forage maize (1)— 
			 Dorset -Bincombe SY 681 836 — Forage maize (1)— 
			 Essex -Weeley TM 168 215 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Leeds-Bramham cum Oglethorpe SE 448 422 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Norfolk -Horningtoft TF 934 241 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Norfolk - Old Buckenham TM 068 897 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Shropshire -Hinstock SJ 683 254 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Warrington -Lymm SJ 714 870 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Shropshire -Whitchurch SJ 573 381 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Norfolk -Winfarthing TM 099 872 01/R33/11 Oilseed rape (winter) (2)— 
			 Oxfordshire -Hinton Waldrist SU 365 980 01/R33/11 Oilseed rape (winter) (2)— 
			 Warwickshire -Long Marston SP151 489 01/R33/11 Oilseed rape (winter) (2)— 
			 Durham -Hutton Magna NZ 136 107 00/R33/9 Oilseed rape (spring) (2)— 
			 North Lincolnshire -Low Burnham SE 776 018 00/R33/9 Oilseed rape (spring) (2)— 
			 Cheshire -Broomedge SJ 697 862 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Berkshire -Shinfieid SU 748 692 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Dorset -Broadway SY 680 822 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Essex -Wivenhoe TM 051 221 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Essex -Alresford TM 056 221 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Herefordshire -Preston Wynne SO 566 478 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 West Yorkshire - Bramham SE 450 412 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Norfolk - North Tuddenham TG031 134 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Worcestershire - Crowle SO 915 564 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Nottinghamshire - Meden Vale SK 589 706 00/R33/07 Oilseed rape (winter) (2)— 
			 Warwickshire -Harbury SP 378 597 00/R33/07 Oilseed rape (winter) (2)— 
			 Gloucestershire - Chipping Campden SP 154 403 98/R19/18 Oilseed rape (spring) (2)— 
			 Gloucestershire - Kempley SO 675 313 98/R19/18 Oilseed rape (spring) (2)— 
			 Hertfordshire - Piccots End TL 068 115 98/R19/18 Oilseed rape (spring) (2)— 
			 North Yorkshire - Hutton Magna, Durham NZ137115 98/R19/18 Oilseed rape (spring) (2)— 
			 Norfolk - West Raynham TF 851 240 98/R22/12 Sugar beet (1)— 
			 Suffolk - Kenny Hill TL 658 802 98/R22/12 Sugar beet (1)— 
			 Dorset - Over Compton ST 587 164 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Essex -Wivenhoe TM 051 224 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Herefordshire -Preston Wynne (Rosem) SO 566 475 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Hertfordshire -Harpenden TL118 130 — Forage maize (1)— 
			 North Yorkshire - Bramham SE 442 409 — Forage maize (2)— 
			 Hertfordshire -Piccots End TL069 118 98/R19/18 Oilseed rape (winter) (1)— 
			 (1) Trial terminated (2) Trail continued 
		
	
	The forage maize crop had a Part C (cultivation) consent, ref.C/F/95/12-07.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Part B consents for the experimental releases of genetically modified organisms authorised under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 and the GMO (Deliberate Release) (England) Regulations 2002 were  (a) granted and  (b) still valid in England since January 2000; and if he will list them.

Huw Irranca-Davies: 182 Part B consents were issued in England in the period when Directive 90/220/EEC was applicable. A list of these consents can be found on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/pdf/exper.pdf.
	13 Part B consents have been issued in England since Directive 200/18/EC became applicable. A list of these consents is available on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/consents/index.htm.
	Four Part B consents are still valid and details of these can be found on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/pdf/trials-rev080708.pdf.

International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tuna

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role the Government played during the recent meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna; what representations he and his Departmental officials made; what assessment he has made of the outcome of the meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The UK attended the ICCAT meeting as part of the European Community delegation and also has a seat on behalf of overseas territories in the Atlantic ocean (Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos and St. Helena).
	Prior to the meeting, the UK (in both its capacity as a member of the EC delegation and on behalf of the overseas territories) held bilateral talks with USA, Canada and Chinese Taipei. UK overseas territories also had regular discussions with the EC during the course of the meeting.
	Regular EC co-ordination meetings were held and the UK made various representations at these on a range of issues including improved compliance in the ICCAT fisheries, conservation of sharks and blue fin tuna.
	I consider that the outcome of the meeting was positive but I would have preferred to have agreed more stringent measures on the conservation of sharks and a smaller TAC for blue fin tuna. I do not believe that it is acceptable to only have conservation measures relating to live sharks and consider that dead sharks should be discarded at sea rather than landed. The EC campaigned vigorously on this point but encountered too much opposition to agree a consensus. The EC intends to continue to push for a stronger conservation regime for sharks and will do so with the whole hearted support of the UK.
	On blue fin tuna, it would have been desirable to secure a smaller TAC for this stock, but I am satisfied with the enhanced control measures agreed for this fishery and are confident that it can now be effectively managed.
	There were detailed discussions on the report of the independent body that undertook a review into the functioning of ICCAT. A working group will now be set up to discuss this report with a view to implementing the recommendations and the UK will look to play a role in these discussions.

Litter: Fines

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what enforcement measures have been undertaken by each local council to impose penalties for litter under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005; how many fines have been imposed; and to what value.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, local authorities can issue a fixed penalty notice, namely an on the spot fine of up to £80, to anyone caught dropping litter. Local authorities can bring prosecutions for non-payment of charges which can lead to a fine of up to £2,500 and a criminal record upon conviction.
	Latest figures (April 2006-March 2007) on the number of fixed penalty notices issued show:
	Number of fixed penalty notices issued for litter: 43,624
	Total amount collected: £1,521,900.

Litter: Fines

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fines have been imposed by local councils for the littering of  (a) cigarette butts and  (b) chewing gum in the last 12 months; and what the total monetary value of such penalties was.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The number of fines issued by local councils is collated under the broad heading of litter and not broken down to the different types of litter. The amount collected from fixed penalty notices for littering for the year 2006-07 (the most recent year for which figures are available) is £1,521,900.

Nature Conservation

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the potential cost to businesses of the introduction of the new charging systems for licences under the International Convention on Trade in Endangered Species.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 16 December 2008
	An impact assessment of the new charging regime, which includes an assessment of the potential effect on businesses, has been published and is available on the DEFRA website. The impact assessment was informed by independent research.

Pesticides

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 18 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 308-09W, on pesticides, how much funding the Government has provided in respect of off-label applications; and when he expects the interim period to end.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The cost of off-label approvals is being increased incrementally in six stages beginning in April 2007 and ending in April 2012. During this period, the total funding being provided by Government are estimated at £175,000.

Pigmeat: Contamination

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the Northern Ireland Executive and  (b) the Irish government on the source of dioxins in pork.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The source of the oil believed to have caused the contamination of feeding stuffs in Republic of Ireland, which resulted in dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in pork, is currently subject to a joint investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Síochána, the national police service for the Republic of Ireland. The Food Standards Agency has been and continues to be in regular dialogue with officials from the Governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Primates

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether codes of conduct on the treatment of primates are under consideration by his Department.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I can confirm that it is DEFRA's intention, in line with commitments made to Parliament, to make a code of practice under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 on the private keeping of primates.

Public Footpaths: River Thames

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to extend the Thames Path National Trail from Woolwich up to the Thames Estuary.

Huw Irranca-Davies: At present there are no plans to formally extend the Thames Path National Trail from its end point at the Thames Barrier. However, the provision of a long distance footpath on either side of the Thames from the Thames Barrier to Southend in Essex and Sheppey in Kent is a key ambition of the Thames Gateway Parklands Vision launched by Communities and Local Government (CLG) in October of this year. A scoping study was launched at the Thames Gateway Forum by CLG to help progress the initiative, outlining the feasibility and estimated costs of approx. £37 million. As yet there is no financial commitment for this Thames Gateway Parklands project, but its potential contribution to the Thames Gateway as the UK's first Eco Region is recognised.
	The powers to enable the creation of a right of access to the coast of England set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Bill currently before Parliament, could be used up to the first pedestrian crossing point on the Thames, subject to consideration of a number of criteria laid out in the Bill. The Bill places a requirement on Natural England to determine the appropriate approach to the Thames Estuary in consultation with land owners and stakeholders as set out in a statutory scheme for England approved by the Secretary of State. Natural England has published a draft of this scheme on their website and the Thames is used as one of the examples in this to illustrate the proposed approach to estuaries.

Rural Development Programme

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 30 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1181-4W, on the Rural Development Programme, if he will provide the figures requested, excluding projects where England Rural Development Programme legacy payments were made after 1 January 2007.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The following table shows the number of projects for which funding has been approved by each regional development agency under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), broken down by the categories previously requested.
	It should be noted that for Axes 1, 3 and Leader the RDPE commenced in January 2008.
	
		
			  Regional development agency   Up to £5,000  £5,001-£100,000  £100,001-£1 million  £1 million+ 
			 Advantage West Midlands Axis 1 — — 1 3 
			  Axis 3 — — — 2 
			  Leader — — 1 2 
			   
			 East of England Development Agency Axis 1 — 1 2 4 
			  Axis 3 — — — — 
			  Leader — — 1 6 
			   
			 East Midlands Development Agency Axis 1 — 4 1 1 
			  Axis 3 — — 6 — 
			  Leader — — — 4 
			   
			 North West Development Agency Axis 1 — 1 4 2 
			  Axis 3 — — — — 
			  Leader — — 6 2 
			   
			 One North East Axis 1 — — 2 2 
			  Axis 3 — 1 1 2 
			  Leader — — — 4 
			   
			 South East England Development Agency Axis 1 — 5 6 1 
			  Axis 3 — 1 2 0 
			  Leader — — — 14 
			   
			 South West of England Development Agency Axis 1 — 4 15 1 
			  Axis 3 — 5 1 — 
			  Leader — — 1 14 
			   
			 Yorkshire Forward Axis 1 — 18 6 2 
			  Axis 3 1 29 2 1 
			  Leader — 6 — —

Seals: Conservation

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to review the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 with a view to strengthening the protection offered to seals.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Government believe that the protection afforded to seals by the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 is appropriate and proportionate and therefore have no plans to review it.

Tuna: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 18 November 2008,  Official Report, column 312W, on tuna: conservation, what progress was made on agreeing enhanced control measures at the meeting; what assessment he has made of their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The revised blue fin tuna management plan which was agreed at the 16(th) Special meeting of International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) contains a number of enhanced management measures. These include:
	Extensions to the closure periods of the fishery for purse seiners, long liners and pelagic trawlers as well as to recreational and sports fishermen;
	A ban on the transhipment of blue fin tuna at sea;
	An obligation on each contracting party operating in the fishery to institute a capacity reduction management plan covering both vessels and farms;
	Transfers of blue fin tuna between vessels or from vessels to cages will not be allowed with the prior permission of the contracting party of the flag vessel which initially caught the fish;
	All vessels operating in the blue fin tuna fishery, be they catching vessels, tug boats or transport vessels, must be registered with ICCAT before they can operate;
	All vessels over 15 metres operating in the fishery must be equipped with vessel monitoring systems, 20 per cent. of each category of vessel operating in the fishery must have on board observers, all purse seiners and vessels transferring tuna to cages must have observers operating under a regional programme or their activities will not be authorised.
	Furthermore, ICCAT will hold an inter-sessional meeting of the compliance committee in the first quarter of 2009, where all contracting parties with blue fin tuna quotas must demonstrate that they can fully comply with the control measures contained in the management plan. If they are unable to do so the Compliance Committee can vote, by simple majority, to suspend the quotas for individual contracting parties until they are able to demonstrate full compliance.
	When the amended management plan was presented to the ICCAT meeting, the only contracting party to object was Libya. I consider the plan has the confidence of the vast majority of ICCAT contracting parties and therefore should be effective given the collective will for it to succeed.

Water Charges

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the costs of climate change adaptation on the Ofwat Price Review 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: In August water and sewerage companies submitted draft business plans to Ofwat. In those plans they laid out the proposed level of expenditure for improving their systems' resilience to hazards such as climate change.
	In October, Ofwat published its report, 'Setting price limits for 2010-15: Overview of companies' draft business plans'. This shows that almost £1 billion of investment had been proposed by water and sewerage companies to increase resilience to a variety of hazards including climate change.
	Ofwat is challenging these draft plans before final business plans are submitted in April 2009.
	Further information on what companies have proposed in their draft business plans is available in Ofwat's report, which can be accessed on the Ofwat website.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children in Care

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children have been taken into care in each year since 1997, broken down by reasons for being taken into care.

Beverley Hughes: The number of children that have been taken into care in each year since 2001, broken down by reasons for being taken into care can be found in the following table.
	Information going back to 1997 is not available. This is due to an introduction of new category of need codes in 2000 on the Children Looked After system which are used to identify the reason for being taken into care.
	
		
			  Children who were taken into care during the years ending 31 March by category of ( need1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. ) Years ending 31 March 2001 to 2008. Coverage: England 
			  Numbers 
			   2001( 5)  2002( 5)  2003( 5)  2004( 6)  2005( 6)  2006( 6)  2007( 6)  2008( 6) 
			 All children who were taken into care(1, 2, 3) 7,000 7,400 8,100 7,500 7,700 7,700 7,700 7,400 
			  
			  Category of need( 7) 
			 Abuse or neglect 5,600 6,000 6,600 5,900 6,000 5,700 5,700 5,400 
			 Child's disability 70 50 70 50 60 70 70 50 
			 Parents illness or disability 290 280 340 280 300 320 290 270 
			 Family in acute distress 270 260 290 290 390 470 500 480 
			 Family dysfunction 520 520 590 670 700 790 870 860 
			 Socially unacceptable behaviour 100 110 90 110 80 100 80 90 
			 Low income 10 10 10 20 20 20 20 10 
			 Absent parenting 150 190 150 190 170 240 160 160 
			 (1 ) Source: SSDA903 return on children looked after. (2 )Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (3 )"Children taken into care" are children who started to be looked after under the following legal status: interim or full care orders, police protection or emergency protection or child assessment orders. They exclude children freed for adoption or for whom a placement order was granted, they exclude children under voluntary accommodation and they also exclude children under youth justice legal statuses. (4 )Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. (5 )Figures are taken from the SSDA903 one-third sample survey. (6 )Figures are taken from the SSDA903 return which, since 2003-04 has covered all children looked after. (7 )It is the most applicable category of the eight "Need Codes" at the time the child was taken into care rather than necessarily the entire reason they are looked after.

Children in Care

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment his Department has made of the recommendations of the report of the Thanet inquiry in respect of looked-after children and vulnerable young people being placed out-of-county by local authorities.

Beverley Hughes: The Thanet Inquiry was produced in June 2005 by the (then) Kent Child Protection Committee. The Inquiry report included useful information about the impact of "out of authority" placements of looked after children on a district with a significant number of private children's homes and independent fostering providers.
	There are a number of initiatives that we are taking forward as part of our "Care Matters" programme that will tackle some of the concerns raised by the Inquiry. The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 recently received royal assent and Section 8 sets out the considerations that local authorities must have regard to when they are considering making a placement for a looked after child, including giving consideration as far as is reasonably practicable to a placement being near a child's home and within the local authority's area. Furthermore, Section 16 of the Act reaffirms local authority responsibilities to ensure visits to looked after children including those placed out of authority and a long way from their homes.
	We will shortly also be consulting on revised guidance on children missing from care which will include more information about the responsibilities of local authorities when a child placed outside of their local authority area goes missing from their placement.

Children: Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children are living in poverty and not entitled to a free school meal, broken down by local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: It is not possible to answer this question as the Government do not have this information broken down at the local authority level.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether any of the Ofsted inspectors who undertook the recent inspection of Haringey child protection services took part in the  (a) 2007 Annual Performance Assessment and  (b) 2006 Joint Area Review.

Beverley Hughes: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 10 December 2008:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	On November 12 2008, following receipt of the Serious Case Review on the death of Baby P, Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, commissioned a Joint Area Review of safeguarding in Haringey. Ofsted led this review, working with Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and the Healthcare Commission.
	None of the inspectors who undertook the recent Joint Area Review in Haringey took part in the authority's 2007 Annual Performance Assessment. One of the members of the inspection team led the previous Joint Area Review of Haringey, which was undertaken in 2006. This ensured that the team possessed the necessary knowledge and background on Haringey, which I deemed to be beneficial in the circumstances. I signed off the report and it was issued in my name.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Children's Centres: Loughborough

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what level of funding he has made available for children's centres in Loughborough in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Beverley Hughes: Funding for Sure Start Children's Centres is allocated to local authorities as part of the Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant. Details of the allocation given to Leicestershire local authority to support and develop children's centres across the authority, including in Loughborough, is given in the following table. Local authorities are responsible for allocating funding to individual children's centres within their area, based on levels of need and demand for services.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Sure Start Children's Centre Revenue( 1)  Sure Start Children's Centre Capital 
			  (a) 2008-09 5.1 0.967 
			  (b) 2009-10 6.7 2.5 
			 (1) Includes ring-fenced funding for Leicestershire's Sure Start Local Programmes, now Sure Start Children's Centres.

Connexions Service

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people have sought individual advice from Connexions Direct via  (a) an online adviser,  (b) telephone and callback,  (c) textphone,  (d) text and  (e) email in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: We only have information on customer contacts under current contracts which began in September 2004. Call volumes are as follows:
	
		
			  Total Connexions direct call volumes by channel 
			  January to December  Online Adviser  Telephone  Callback  Textphone  Text  Email 
			 2004 30,862 19,638 — — 4,929 8,153 
			 2005 144,903 80,615 — — 11,392 35,962 
			 2006 165,122 79,568 1,540 — 9,125 35,897 
			 2007 146,311 76,586 1,826 — 9,095 30,833 
			 2008 144,853 70,055 4,214 69 7,683 34,632

Connexions Service: Expenditure

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on the Connexions service in respect of information, advice and guidance on  (a) health,  (b) careers,  (c) money,  (d) relationships,  (e) learning,  (f) personal rights,  (g) housing,  (h) travel,  (i) work and  (j) free time in each year since 2001 for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: We only collect information on the total amount spent on Connexions services and not the detailed breakdown requested. The amount spent on Connexions services in each year since 2001 is as follows:
	
		
			   Spend (£ million) 
			 2001-02 110 
			 2002-03 337 
			 2003-04 439 
			 2004-05 458 
			 2005-06 464 
			 2006-07 466 
			 2007-08 467 
			 2008-09 469 
		
	
	In addition to the above figures, £5 million per annum has been spent on the Connexions Direct service since the helpline was rolled out nationally in 2004-05.

Departmental Procurement

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of invoices for goods and services procured from small and medium-sized businesses were paid within 10 days of receipt by his Department in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I would direct the hon. Member to the departmental published accounts for 2006-07 and 2007-08 which set out the performance of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in this regard. The Department paid 97.7 per cent. of all valid invoices for goods and services within 30 days in 2006-07 and 98.8 per cent. in 2007-08.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families welcomed the 8 October 2008 statement by the Prime Minister on moving to the payment of invoices within 10 days. The Department is working towards this goal.
	DCSF does not currently publish information about the size of its suppliers. We do not discriminate by size of business because many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can be found within larger supply chains. Alongside speeding up Government payments we are also looking to our main contractors to pass on the benefits to smaller suppliers in their supply chains.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families was created on 28 June 2007 as a result of a Machinery of Government change. The data included in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 accounts also include that of its predecessor Department, the Department for Education and Skills. The Department does not have any Executive agencies.

Family Intervention Projects

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local authorities have applied unsuccessfully for funding to implement family intervention projects and the Think Family reforms.

Beverley Hughes: Local authorities that are delivering family intervention projects did not enter into a bidding process and therefore there were no unsuccessful areas. There were 76 unsuccessful LAs who applied to become a family pathfinder and develop and test the Think Family approach. Since then, funding has been made available through the Youth Crime Action Plan to support every local authority to deliver a family intervention project and the Think Family approach from April 2009.

GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of 15-year-olds  (a) not entitled and  (b) entitled to free school meals achieved (i) five GCSEs at A* to C and (ii) five GCSEs at A* to C including English and mathematics, in each year since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information available is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Non-FSM  FSM 
			   Five GCSE at A*-C  Five GCSE at A*-C with English and mathematics  Five GCSE at A*-C  Five GCSE at A*-C with English and mathematics 
			 2007 62.8 49.0 35.5 21.1 
			 2006 60.7 47.5 32.6 19.5 
			 2005 59.3 48.1 31.1 19.8 
			 2004 56.8 44.8 27.4 16.8 
			 2003 56.0 45.1 25.7 16.7 
			 2002 54.5 43.1 24.1 15.3 
			  Source: National Pupil Database. 
		
	
	Prior to 2002, the achievement and attainment data was not matched to individual pupil characteristics.

Methadone

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children who were subject of serious case reviews died from ingesting methadone in each of the last three years.

Beverley Hughes: Child deaths which result in a serious case review being undertaken may be due to a range of causes but it is not possible precisely to quantify the number of methadone related child deaths from the information held by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Serious case reviews should always be conducted when a child dies and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to factor in the death.

Secondary Education: Vocational Guidance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many secondary schools have a specialist full-time careers adviser attached to their staff;
	(2)  how many secondary schools have no specialised careers service or careers adviser;
	(3)  how many secondary schools have staff employed to teach specific subjects and to act as a careers adviser;
	(4)  how many secondary schools have a part-time careers adviser attached to their staff;
	(5)  how many teachers are employed in a dual role as a teacher and a careers adviser;
	(6)  how many hours teachers who provide careers advice must undergo to do so;
	(7)  what training in careers guidance and progression careers advisers in schools receive prior to starting their job;
	(8)  what training in careers guidance and progression careers advisers in schools receive during their practice period.

Beverley Hughes: Responsibility for curriculum organisation and staff training is delegated to local authorities and schools. We do not keep records centrally of how careers advice is provided within all schools or about the numbers, or the skills and knowledge, of teaching staff involved in providing careers advice. However, the Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey 2007 shows there are 1,900 teachers delivering at least one period of Careers Education per week. These teachers are also responsible for delivering a wide variety of other subjects of the curriculum.(1)
	(1) The Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS) is an occasional survey that has been carried out every four to six years since 1965. The 2007 survey was carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER).

Secondary Education: Vocational Guidance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the status of specialist careers guidance in secondary schools is; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Specialist careers guidance is provided by Connexions services who work in partnership with schools to ensure that young people are supported to make decisions about learning and careers that best meet their needs. Partnership agreements between schools and Connexions set out local arrangements for how the partners will work together.
	All maintained schools have a statutory duty to provide a planned programme of careers education from years 7-11. This is delivered principally within the new PSHE: Economic Well Being curriculum. But schools also embed information about learning and careers into other subject teaching and provide additional, personalised support through a range of learning and pastoral support arrangements.
	The Government's 14-19 reform programme places considerable emphasis on the importance of all young people receiving high quality, comprehensive and impartial information, advice and guidance on learning and careers. We will be publishing, in spring 2009, our strategy for further improving the provision of help and advice on learning and careers to young people.

Secondary Education: Vocational Guidance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on teachers acting as careers advisers; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: If a teacher is called upon to provide advice on learning and careers in the delivery of his/her day-to-day duties, they should consider their competence to respond and offer advice as appropriate. If necessary, they should refer the young person to specialist advisers for an answer.

Special Educational Needs: North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding was provided for special education in  (a) Chorley,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) the North West region in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The Department allocates education funding to local authorities so the requested information for Chorley is not available.

Vocational Guidance

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of children have a careers interview with an independent adviser before they leave school.

Beverley Hughes: All young people have access to independent specialist careers advisers through local Connexions services. Connexions provide advice and guidance on a range of issues. Our data shows that around 44 per cent. of young people in year 11 received one to one support in 2007-08 and a further 15 per cent. prior to their entry to year 11. However, these data are not disaggregated to identify the proportion of interventions focused specifically on careers.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Leader of the House how many  (a) letters and  (b) e-mails received by her Office had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008.

Chris Bryant: The Leader's Office aims to respond to all correspondence received, where an answer is requested or required, including both letters and e-mails, from hon. Members and peers within 15 working days, and within 20 working days to members of the public. As of 15 December there were 85 items of correspondence (including e-mails) awaiting response, of which 82 are expected to be answered within that deadline.
	In 2007 the Leader's Office answered 94 per cent. of correspondence from hon. Members and peers within deadline, and 90 per cent. of correspondence from members of the public.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Leader of the House how many special advisers were employed in her Office at each pay band on 30 November 2008; and what her Office's total expenditure on special advisers was in 2007-08.

Chris Bryant: The Government are committed to publishing an annual list detailing the number and costs of special advisers. Information for 2007-08 was published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 99-102WS.

Euthanasia

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House whether she plans to provide Government time on the Floor of the House to debate  (a) assisted suicide and  (b) euthanasia during (i) Session 2008-09 and (ii) Session 2009-10; what representations she has received on the matter since July 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: Plans for debates will be announced throughout the Session by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House in the usual way. I understand the interest in this issue and I am aware that the matter has been raised by hon. Members.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Departmental Work Experience

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many individuals have worked in his Department on  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid work experience or internships in each year since its establishment; on average how many hours a week were worked by such people in each year; what types of work each was involved in; what proportion were in full-time education; what proportion did not complete their set period of work experience; and how much those who received remuneration were paid on average per week in each year.

Si�n Simon: Since its creation in June 2007 to date, the Department has made seven paid internships and 11 unpaid work experience places available. For internships, four interns were placed in summer 2007 and three interns in summer 2008. All interns were university-level students in Cabinet Office programmes. For work experience, four year 10 and 11 students were placed from 28 July to December 2007 and five year 10 and 11 students were placed from January to December 2008. The Department did not run a co-ordinated programme for work experience in 2008 but did sponsor a further two students as part of the Windsor Fellowship programme in July 2008. Information on work experience hours is not collected centrally but it is expected that students and graduates would work similar hours to full-time staff on the relevant site and at the discretion of the team to which they have been assigned. Information on students who did not complete their set period of work experience is not collected centrally and, along with the work hours worked, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Payments for internships for 2007 and 2008 were 285 per week in London and 245 per week outside London.
	All interns and work experience students and graduates undertook a range of structured and supervised tasks to learn and feedback on the delivery of a range of projects for the Department using the core skills of Professional Skills for Government.
	The Department is currently in the process of planning its own work experience programme for 2009.

Further Education: National Insurance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the amount paid in national insurance contributions by  (a) further education colleges and  (b) universities in the last 12 months for which figures are available

David Lammy: There have been no estimates made of the annual amount paid in national insurance contributions by further education colleges or universities, as this is a matter for FECs and HEIs themselves as employers of their own staff.

Nuclear Power: Research

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much funding the Government has provided for research into nuclear fusion in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: UK Government expenditure on nuclear fusion research in the last five years is given in the following table. The UK also contributes to the EURATOM fusion research budget through its share of the funding of the European Union.
	
		
			   million 
			 2003-04 15.9 
			 2004-05 22.7 
			 2005-06 20.6 
			 2006-07 25.6 
			 2007-08 25.4

Overseas Students: Scholarships

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many doctoral students from Commonwealth countries have received scholarships from his Department in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award scheme has been operating since 2004 through the Research Councils. The Department for Trade and Industry previously had responsibility.
	There have been approximately 560 scholar posts to the universities and we have had nationality data from the universities for approximately 420 scholars to date, which reveals 100 from Commonwealth member states.

Research: Finance

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much and what proportion of university research income was sourced from  (a) business and  (b) charities in each of the last 10 years.

David Lammy: Statistics on research grants and contracts income are collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in their Finance Statistics Return.
	The following table shows for Higher Education Institutions in England, a time series of research grants and contracts income from UK-based charities and UK industry. The information is shown in a separate table.
	
		
			   million/percentage 
			   1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 UK-based charities 310 338 356 401 462 504 542 577 585 610 645 
			 UK industry, commerce and public corporations 155 170 183 201 215 209 214 204 200 208 220 
			 
			 Total research grants and contracts 1,366 1,431 1,505 1,614 1,812 1,987 2,110 2,211 2,347 2,539 2,744 
			 HEFCE recurrent research income 642 714 831 864 880 888 941 1,037 1,079 1,250 1,344 
			 Total Research income (Research grants and contracts + HEFCE Recurrent R) 2,007 2,145 2,336 2,478 2,693 2,875 3,050 3,248 3,426 3,789 4,088 
			 
			 UK-based charities as a percentage of total research income 15.4 15.8 15.3 16.2 17.1 17.5 17.8 17.8 17.1 16.1 15.8 
			 UK industry as a percentage of total research income 7.7 7.9 7.8 8.1 8.0 7.3 7.0 6.3 5.8 5.5 5.4

Students: Debt

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has to review the costs associated with balances owed to the Student Loans Company.

David Lammy: The legislative provisions for Income Contingent Repayment student loans require that the rate of interest must: (i) be no higher than is necessary to maintain the value of the loan in real terms; and (ii) not exceed 1 per cent. above the highest of the base rates of a specified group of banks(1) (the 'low interest cap'). The interest rate is normally set every September to equal the retail prices index for the previous Marchcurrently 3.8 per cent. Following the reduction in the Bank of England base rate by the Monetary Policy Committee on 4 December 2008, all the specified banks have reduced their base rates to 2 per cent. and the low interest cap comes into play. The Student Loans Company (SLC) have therefore reduced the interest rate for income contingent loans from 3.8 per cent. to 3 per cent. with effect from 5 December 2008 until further notice. The SLC have published this information on their website and in national newspapers.
	The interest rate for loans taken out before 1998 (known as 'mortgage style loans') is not affected as these loans are governed by different legislation.
	(1) Bank of England; Bank of Scotland; Barclays Bank plc; Clydesdale Bank plc; Co-operative Bank plc; Courts and Co; HSBC Bank plc; Lloyds TSB Bank plc; Natwest Bank plc; the Royal Bank of Scotland plc.

TREASURY

Banks: Regulation

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines  (a) UK Financial Investments Ltd and  (b) the Financial Services Authority has established to govern bonuses paid to senior bank executives.

Ian Pearson: On 13 October 2008 the chief executive of the Financial Services Authority wrote to the chief executives of the major banks and building societies, setting out the criteria for remuneration policies and practices which are properly aligned to sound risk management and controls.
	UK Financial Investments Limited (UKFI), which is wholly owned by the Government, will oversee the conditions attached to subscribing to the Government's recapitalisation fund, including in relation to remuneration policies of banks' board directors. UKFI will work to ensure management incentivisation based on long-term value maximization, which attracts and retains high quality management and which minimises the potential for rewarding failure.

Credit Rating: EU Action

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 880W, on credit rating, what assessment he has made of the outcome of the European Commission's consultation on an EU-wide registration scheme for credit rating agencies.

Ian Pearson: The Government support registration of credit rating agencies. The Commission's proposals are now being discussed in council working groups.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2006-07 and  (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices.

Angela Eagle: Spending by Treasury Ministers on hospitality is included within their conference and hospitality budgets covering internal and external conferences, catering and meeting refreshments. Outturn for the years requested are shown in the following table:
	
		
			
			 2004-05 59,312 
			 2005-06 26,545 
			 2006-07 39,163 
			 2007-08 22,187 
		
	
	GDP deflators necessary to convert the aforementioned figures to current prices can be found at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_gdp_annex.htm

Income Tax

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of administering  (a) the PAYE system,  (b) the child tax credit system and  (c) the working tax credit system was in each of the last three years.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 9 December 2008
	The information is as follows:
	 (a) The costs of collecting Income Tax through PAYE in each of the last three years are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Costs (nearest  million) 
			 2005-06 851 
			 2006-07 944 
			 2007-08 949 
		
	
	 (b) and  (c) The costs of managing and paying child and working tax credit for the last three years are set out in Notes 3.4 and 3.5 of the Trust Statement to HM Revenue and Customs Accounts for 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Revenue and Customs

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government has to improve access for hon. Members to assist them in dealing with constituent issues concerning HM Revenue and Customs.

Stephen Timms: HMRC operate exclusive MP telephone hotlines for tax credit and child benefit issues.
	HMRC currently has no plans to create further MP hotlines. However HMRC aim to provide a timely and high quality service to MPs who raise matters on behalf of their constituents with the Department.

Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 2 June 2000,  Official Report, column 720W, on Revenue and Customs: correspondence, on what dates and for what amounts tax credit manual payments have been issued to the constituent referred to in the Answer in 2008-09 to date; and how many of these were substitute payments.

Stephen Timms: The right hon. Gentleman wrote to me about his constituent on 1 December 2008 and I have responded to him in writing today.

Tax Credit: Telephone Services

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether tax credit helpline call centres have caller identification technology in place.

Stephen Timms: I can confirm that tax credit helpline call centres do have caller identification technology in place.

Tax Yields

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the difference was between tax owed to and tax received by the Exchequer in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs produce figures on amounts of bad and doubtful debts each year. These figures are shown in the Statement of Revenue and Expenditure in the Trust Statement which forms part of its published accounts.
	The accounts for 2007-08 (HC 674) which include these figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 were published on 14 July 2008. Copies of the accounts are available on the HMRC website at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/reports.htm

Taxation: Football

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to discuss with football authorities payment of tax arrears by professional football clubs.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs does not treat football clubs differently from any other business in respect of tax arrears.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental Data Protection

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's IT and data security policies and procedures;
	(2)  what security controls are in place in respect of each data set his Department holds; and whether such controls are based on the level of risk.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department has an extensive range of policies, standards and procedures for the protection of information (including personal data), and the associated information technology systems. In common with all data controllers formally registered under the Data Protection Act, there are legal obligations placed on the Department to ensure that personal data is properly protected from theft or loss, and the Department takes these responsibilities very seriously. It is not in the interests of data subjects for the Department to publish the detailed methodologies, controls and processes which apply to the protection of information in general and personal information in particular, and the related security policies that apply to information technology systems. To do so could enable individuals to deduce how successful the Department is in protecting its systems, in identifying vulnerabilities, and detecting attacks, and might assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the Department's controls, and thus unlawfully procuring information and data. This would not be in the public interest.

Departmental Data Protection

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what risk assessment his Department has made in respect of each data set it holds.

Jonathan R Shaw: In accordance with the Cabinet Office's review of Data Handling Procedures in Government, the Department is required to conduct annual risk assessments of its information assets. A formal statement of the Accounting Officer's overall assessment of the level of information risk will be given in the Department's annual Resource Account for the year ending March 2009. However, it is not in the interests of data security for the Department to publish its detailed assessments of the level of risk attached to specific data sets. To do so could enable individuals to exploit any identified vulnerabilities, and thus unlawfully to obtain information and data. This would not be in the public interest.

Departmental Data Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants in his Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since its inception.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information on the numbers of staff in the Department for Work and Pensions that have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since its inception is not available in the format requested.
	The Department for Work and Pensions records the numbers of staff investigated, suspended and dismissed for misconduct under general headings but does not record this information under the specific categories requested. To extract more detailed information from individual records under the categories requested would be at disproportionate cost.
	Following publication of the Data Handling Review in June 2008, the Department is introducing changes to its disciplinary rules and standards of behaviour to reinforce security measures around the handling and safeguarding of customer data and equipment. The Department's Discipline and Standards of Behaviour policies and procedures in relation to data loss are brought to the attention of staff via the Department's intranet site.

Domestic Safety: Natural Gas

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) injuries and  (b) fatalities as a result of domestic gas accidents there have been in each of the last 10 years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following information is taken from gas statistics published by HSE from data reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). While most of the reports made relate to domestic incidents some non domestic incidents may have been included. Because of the level of detail recorded on individual RIDDOR reports further separation of the statistics could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  (a) Number of non-fatal injuries 
			   Explosion/fire  CO exposure  Other exposure  Total 
			 1998-99 30 194 n/a 224 
			 1999-2000 61 228 n/a 289 
			 2000-01 36 265 n/a 301 
			 2001-02 47 169 n/a 216 
			 2002-03 38 138 n/a 176 
			 2003-04 43 174 3 220 
			 2004-05 42 203 5 250 
			 2005-06 29 210 2 241 
			 2006-07 27 184 0 211 
			 2007-08(1) 40 234 15 289 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Number of fatalities 
			   Explosion/fire  CO exposure  Other exposure  Total 
			 1998-99 11 37 n/a 48 
			 1999-2000 10 26 n/a 36 
			 2000-01 8 25 n/a 33 
			 2001-02 5 22 n/a 27 
			 2002-03 5 20 n/a 25 
			 2003-04 5 11 2 18 
			 2004-05 2 18 1 21 
			 2005-06 4 16 0 20 
			 2006-07 2 10 0 12 
			 2007-08(1) 3 14 3 20 
			 n/a = Not available (1) Provisional (subject to statistical verification)

Natural Gas: Engineers

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the adequacy of standards in the regulation of domestic gas fitters and engineers; and what consideration he has given to the amendment of the existing regulatory regime.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Health and Safety Executive addressed these matters in a review of the domestic gas safety regime in 2006. From April 2009 a reformed and expanded gas installer registration scheme, itself based in gas safety law, will include new arrangements seeking to ensure competent gas work by registered installers.

Occupational Pensions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Pensions Regulator on companies with final salary pension schemes making up shortfalls in assets following the credit crunch.

Rosie Winterton: DWP Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Pensions Regulator to discuss the regulatory framework, including the ability of companies to make up final salary pension schemes' shortfalls.
	The Pensions Regulator published its second analytical document on scheme funding and recovery plans on 11 December 2008. The report is available at the Pensions Regulator's website.
	The regulator's analysis of recovery plans shows positive trends in addressing pension deficits but recognises that there are challenges ahead. Reasonable affordability remains the key and the regulator has issued statements on 24 October and 11 December reaffirming the flexibility of the scheme funding regime in relation to current market conditions.

Pathways to Work

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the financial impact on Pathways to Work providers and their clients of the period between when a client first moves into employment and their first received earnings; and what plans he has to amend the rules regarding the cessation of benefit payments to individuals immediately upon entering employment.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 15 December 2008
	We have a range of provisions in place to provide financial security for and reassurance to individuals who move from benefit into full-time employment. These include the job grant, mortgage interest run-on and housing and council tax benefit extended payments scheme. All are intended to help bridge the gap between benefit and receipt of first wages, to help individuals adjust to extra financial demands, and to remove any disincentive to claimants to take up employment. Help is available from the Adviser Discretion Fund to provide financial assistance at the point of transition into work, and a return to work credit is also available to ensure work pays once people move from benefit and start work.
	We have no immediate plans to amend these rules but will keep them under consideration. No assessment has been made of any impact on Pathways to Work providers.

Pension Credit: Administrative Delays

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of new pension credit claims were not processed within 15 days in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Rosie Winterton: While the majority of claims are processed within the actual average clearance time target, there are some cases where it is necessary to request additional information from the customer to ensure they get all the money to which they are entitled.
	The time taken to process a claim does not affect the start date of payments. Payment will be backdated to the point the claim was first submitted.
	People should claim as soon as they think they are eligible. From October customers can claim four benefits in one free phone call: state pension, pension credit, council tax benefit and housing benefit. In some circumstances, we will also arrange face to face visits to help with completion of the claim.
	The information available is in the following table.
	
		
			  Pension credit clearance times 
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 TargetAACT (days) 10 15 
			 Total processed 334,501 280,097 
			 Not processed within target 68,142 83,182 
			 Not processed within target (percentage) 20 30 
			 AACT (days) 11.9 15.6 
			  Note: AACTActual Average Clearance Time.  Source Data: Pension Service Legacy System

Pensioners: Tendring

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that pensioners in Tendring are able to pay their winter heating bills;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to assist pensioners in Tendring in meeting the cost of their fuel needs.

Rosie Winterton: Winter fuel payments provide a significant contribution to people's heating costs in winter and were created to give pensioners reassurance that they can afford to heat their homes in winter. This winter, an additional payment will be made of 50 for households with someone aged 60-79 and 100 for households with someone aged 80 or over increasing the winter fuel payment to 250 and 400 respectively. Pensioners may also qualify for cold weather payments when there is a spell of very cold weather in their area. This winter, cold weather payments have been increased from 8.50 to 25.
	Pensioners can also take advantage of the help available through a range of fuel poverty programmes such as the Warm Front Scheme in England. Increased funding for the Warm Front Scheme was announced in the recent pre-Budget report. This complements the addition of 1 billion of measures announced by the Government in September aimed at helping those vulnerable to fuel poverty.

Pensions

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to make the public aware of changes to the regulation of safeguarded rights;
	(2)  what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that pension providers are prepared for changes to the regulation of safeguarded rights.

Rosie Winterton: The Department will notify all occupational and personal pension schemes of the abolition of safeguarded rights and will issue a press release.

Post Office Card Account

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the terms and conditions of the new Post Office card account will be; and how they will differ from those under the current contract;
	(2)  when he expects the negotiation process for the Post Office card account contract to conclude.

Rosie Winterton: We are currently in the process of finalising the details of the contract (including the terms and conditions) with Post Office Ltd.
	Both DWP and the Post Office are aiming to finalise the contract as quickly as possible.

Social Fund

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time was for decisions to be taken on crisis loan applications in  (a) each of the last 12 quarters and  (b) in each month of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Average time for decisions to be taken on crisis loan applications in Great Britain in each of the last 12 quarters 
			  Quarter ending  Average actual clearance time (working days) 
			 December 2005 1.4 
			 March 2006 1.4 
			 June 2006 1.4 
			 September 2006 1.4 
			 December 2006 1.6 
			 March 2007 1.6 
			 June 2007 1.6 
			 September 2007 1.7 
			 December 2007 1.7 
			 March 2008 1.8 
			 June 2008 1.9 
			 September 2008 1.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Average time for decisions to be taken on crisis loan applications in Great Britain in each month of the last three years 
			  Month  Average actual clearance time (working days) 
			 December 2005 1.4 
			 January 2006 1.4 
			 February 2006 1.4 
			 March 2006 1.4 
			 April 2006 1.3 
			 May 2006 1.4 
			 June 2006 1.5 
			 July 2006 1.4 
			 August 2006 1.4 
			 September 206 1.4 
			 October 2006 1.5 
			 November 2006 1.6 
			 December 2006 1.7 
			 January 2007 1.6 
			 February 2007 1.5 
			 March 2007 1.7 
			 April 2007 1.6 
			 May 2007 1.6 
			 June 2007 1.5 
			 July 2007 1.6 
			 August 2007 1.7 
			 September 2007 1.7 
			 October 2007 1.6 
			 November 2007 1.7 
			 December 2007 1.8 
			 January 2008 1.7 
			 February 2008 1.8 
			 March 2008 1.8 
			 April 2008 1.9 
			 May 2008 1.8 
			 June 2008 2.0 
			 July 2008 1.9 
			 August 2008 1.8 
			 September 2008 1.7 
			 October 2008 1.8 
			 November 2008 1.7 
			  Notes: 1. The clearance time for an individual Crisis Loan application is measured in whole working days from the date the application is received until the date the decision is taken on whether to make a loan offer and, if a loan offer is made, the number of whole working days between receiving the applicant's reply to the offer and the recording of that reply. The minimum clearance time recorded for an individual Crisis Loan application is one working day, even if the application is cleared immediately. 2. Numbers are based on applications cleared in each period, not on applications received during that period.  Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System

Unemployed: Qualifications

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the  (a) employment and  (b) unemployment rate of (i) lone fathers, (ii) lone mothers and (iii) lone parents with the equivalent of five GCSEs or fewer aged (A) 16 to 24, (B) 25 to 34, (C) 34 to 49 and (D) 50 years to state retirement age in each quarter for the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated December 2008:
	As National Statistician. I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the (a) employment and (b) unemployment rate of (i) lone fathers (ii) lone mothers and (iii) lone parents with the equivalent of five GCSEs or fewer aged (A) 16 to 24 (B) 25 to 34 (C) 34 to 49 and (D) 50 years to state retirement age in each quarter for the last 10 years. (241705)
	The available information is provided in the attached table.
	The information requested has been answered using annual estimates derived from the Annual Population Survey (APS) household dataset, which are only available from 2004. Quarterly estimates derived from the Labour Force Survey are of insufficient quality for answering this question due to the detail requested. Estimates for lone fathers derived from the APS arc unreliable at this detailed level and have not been provided.
	It is vital to note that as with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty as different samples give different results. Estimates should be treated with caution when comparing two time periods as observed changes may not be statistically significant.
	
		
			  Employment and unemployment rates( 1)  for all lone parents and lone mothers with the equivalent of five GCSEs or fewer, by age group, January to December for each year 2004 to 2007, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Percentage 
			   16-24  25-34  35-49 
			   Employment rate  Unemployment rate  Employment rate  Unemployment rate  Employment rate  Unemployment rate 
			  Lone Parents   
			 2004 16 31 35 17 49 11 
			 2005 18 30 33 15 51 9 
			 2006 20 33 31 20 50 12 
			 2007(3) **20 ***30 *30 **19 *49 **12 
			
			  Lone Mothers   
			 2004 16 32 35 16 49 10 
			 2005 18 30 33 15 51 8 
			 2006 19 35 30 20 49 11 
			 2007(3) **20 ***28 *30 ***19 *49 **12 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   50-59 / 64( 2)  Total 
			   Employment rate  Unemployment rate  Employment rate  Unemployment rate 
			  Lone Parents 
			 2004 45 6 41 13 
			 2005 43 8 41 12 
			 2006 48 6 40 15 
			 2007(3) **46 ****7 *40 **15 
			  
			  Lone Mothers 
			 2004 41 8 40 13 
			 2005 42 7 41 11 
			 2006 46 7 39 15 
			 2007(3) **43 ****8 *39 **15 
			 (1) Employment rate is calculated as number of people in employment with 5 GCSEs or fewer as a percentage of the population in the individual age group with 5 GCSEs or fewer. The unemployment rate is calculated as the number of people unemployed with 5 GCSEs or fewer as a percentage of the economically active population in the individual age group with 5 GCSEs or fewer. (2) Men aged 50-64 and women aged 50-59. (3) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below.  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV - for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220.  Key Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical robustness  * 0 = CV  5 Estimates are considered precise. ** 5 = CV  10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise. *** 10 = CV  20 Estimates are considered acceptable. **** CV = 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes.  Note: Sample size too small to provide estimates for lone fathers.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Charities: Bank Services

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 5 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 492-3W, on charities: bank services, if he will place in the Library the background information on the charities.

Kevin Brennan: I am unable to place this information in the Library as the details of the charities affected were given to us in confidence on the basis that they would not be made public. Some organisations have expressed concern about the reputational risk of disclosing information about their investments and I am obliged to respect their confidence. The right hon. Member will be aware that a new charity action group, called Save Our Savings (SOS), has been formed to represent charities that have deposits at risk with Kauthpthing, Singer and Friedlander Limited. The Save Our Savings campaign is led by Cats Protection and Naomi House Children's Hospice.

Charities: Bank Services

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 5 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 492-3W, on charities: bank services, what the names of the 46 charities are.

Kevin Brennan: I am unable to provide the names of the charities affected as they were given to us in confidence on the basis that they would not be made public. Some organisations have expressed concern about the reputational risk of disclosing information about their investments and I am obliged to respect their confidence. The right hon. Member will be aware that a new charity action group, called Save Our Savings (SOS), has been formed to represent charities that have deposits at risk with Kauthpthing, Singer and Friedlander Limited. The Save Our Savings campaign is led by Cats Protection and Naomi House Children's Hospice.

Charities: Terrorism

John Leech: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many registered UK charities have been investigated by the Charity Commission in consequence of allegations of links with terrorist organisations in each year since 2001.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 12 December 2008:
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on charities with alleged links to terrorism.
	As you will understand, this aspect of our work is of a highly sensitive nature. We are limited in the amount of information we can provide, as we have to ensure that we do not prejudice our ongoing operational work and also the work being carried out by law enforcement and other agencies. Charities are not always aware of allegations of terrorist links so we do not publish statistics about the number of investigations or cases of this nature.
	The Commission has powers to conduct formal, statutory inquiries under section 8 of the Charities Act 1993. Where we are able to, it is now our policy to publish reports stating the results of these inquiries. We also responded publicly in connection with the Home Office review and consultation in May 2007 on safeguarding the charitable sector from terrorist abuse. We were able to confirm that at that time the Commission had concluded 16 investigations relating to charities facing allegations of connections to terrorist activity over the past ten years. These included for example, the inquiry into Finsbury Park Mosque, where we removed Abu Hamza from his position at the mosque.
	An example of a recent inquiry report which included issues of alleged links to terrorism is the inquiry into the UK Tamils Student Union (published 2007). Another is the report on Al Ikhlas Foundation, (published in October), which is still available via our website at www.charitycommission.gov.uk under inquiry reports.
	Furthermore, we have begun annually to publish a report on the work of our compliance teams (who deal, among other issues, with cases involving alleged links with terrorism). The first of these reports, Charities Back on Track, was published earlier this year. It explains that of the 42 statutory inquiries reports that we published last year, one was related to allegations of links to terrorism. Charities Back on Track is also available on our website and I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the House of Commons library.
	I hope this is helpful.

Departmental Procurement

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of invoices for goods and services procured from small and medium-sized businesses were paid within 10 days of receipt by No. 10 Downing Street in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office and therefore the answer provided is for the whole of the Cabinet Office including the Prime Minister and his office.
	The Cabinet Office system is not set up to identify the size of a business.

Departmental Written Questions

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 11 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1131W, on written questions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard Cabinet Office intranet (Cabweb) guidance on answering round robin Parliamentary Questions.

Kevin Brennan: A copy has been placed in the Library.

Futurebuilders: Catz Club

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much funding Futurebuilders has written off in total in relation to the charity Catz Club.

Kevin Brennan: The Futurebuilders Fund is managed by Futurebuilders England Ltd. (FBE) under contract to the Cabinet Office and all Futurebuilders investment decisions are made by FBE.
	FBE invested a total of 1,536,000 in Catz Club, which consisted of a capital grant of 170,000 and a loan of 1,366,000. The total funding written off by FBE in relation to the charity Catz Club is 841,979.

Futurebuilders: Catz Club

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration the Futurebuilders Advisory Panel has made of the funding given by Futurebuilders to the charity Catz Club.

Liam Byrne: The Futurebuilders Advisory Panel was an advisory non-departmental public body established in March 2005 to provide independent advice to Ministers on the Futurebuilders programme. As part of the rationalisation of advisory bodies in the Office of the Third Sector, the Futurebuilders Advisory Panel held its last meeting on 1 April 2008.
	The terms of reference of the panel were to:
	Advise on progress, effectiveness and future developments relating to the (Futurebuilders) Fund;
	Scrutinise and evaluate the activities of the Fund; and to
	Influence the development of the Fund.
	The Advisory Panel did not consider individual investment decisions made by Futurebuilders England Ltd.

Futurebuilders: Catz Club

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood, (Mr. Hurd) of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 16W, on Catz Club, for what reasons Futurebuilders decided to terminate its relationship with Catz Club.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him on 24 November,  Official Report, column 1124W.

Statistics: Unemployed

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what definition of long-term unemployed is used to produce statistics on long-term unemployed people; and how those statistics are calculated.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 16 December 2008
	 The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 December 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question, asking what definition of long-term unemployed is used to produce statistics on long-term unemployed people; and how those statistics are calculated. (244068)
	Official estimates of unemployment are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). They are calculated in accordance with the definition agreed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), that is, people are unemployed if they are without a job, want a job, have actively sought work in the last four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks, or if they are out of work, have found a job and are going to start it in the next two weeks.
	The duration of unemployment is measured in terms of calendar months and years and relates to the length of time looking for work, and the length of time since the respondent's last job.
	The ONS has no official definition for long-term unemployment. However, for the LFS, long-term unemployment is usually regarded as unemployment with a duration of one year or more.
	Under the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) there is a category for long-term unemployed but users must decide their own definition, according to their research purposes.

Unemployment

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the  (a) employment and  (b) unemployment rate for (i) women, (ii) men and (iii) men and women aged (A) 16 to 24, (B) 25 to 34, (C) 34 to 49 and (D) 50 to 60 years was in each month of the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated December 2008:
	As National Statistician. I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the (a) employment and (b) unemployment rate for (i) women, (ii) men and (ill) men and women aged (A) 16 to 24, (B) 25 to 34. (C) 34 to 49 and (D) 50 to 60 years was in each month of the last 10 years. (241444)
	The attached table provides estimated employment and unemployment rates for the categories requested, for each quarter since 1998. Monthly data is not available.
	The estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	The figures have been derived from the LFS microdata which are weighted using the official population estimates published in autumn 2007. Consequently, the figures from quarter 3 2006 are not entirely consistent with the figures published in the monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release which are weighted using more up-to-date population estimates.
	
		
			  Employment and unemployment rates( 1) , by age and sex, three months ending March, June, September and December, 1998 to 2008, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Percentage 
			16 to 24  25 to 34 
			Employment rate  Unemployment rate  Employment rate  Unemployment rate 
			   People 
			 1998 Q1 61 13 78 7 
			  Q2 61 13 78 6 
			  Q3 65 15 78 6 
			  Q4 63 13 79 6 
			   
			 1999 Q1 61 13 79 6 
			  Q2 61 13 79 6 
			  Q3 65 14 80 6 
			  Q4 63 12 80 6 
			   
			 2000 Q1 61 13 80 6 
			  Q2 61 12 80 5 
			  Q3 65 13 80 5 
			  Q4 62 12 80 5 
			   
			 2001 Q1 61 12 80 5 
			  Q2 62 11 80 5 
			  Q3 64 13 80 5 
			  Q4 63 12 80 5 
			   
			 2002 Q1 61 12 79 5 
			  Q2 61 11 80 5 
			  Q3 64 14 79 5 
			  Q4 63 12 80 5 
			   
			 2003 Q1 60 13 79 5 
			  Q2 60 12 79 5 
			  Q3 63 14 80 5 
			  Q4 62 11 80 5 
			   
			 2004 Q1 60 12 80 5 
			  Q2 60 11 80 4 
			  Q3 63 14 80 4 
			  Q4 61 12 80 5 
			   
			 2005 Q1 59 12 80 4 
			  Q2 59 12 80 4 
			  Q3 61 14 80 4 
			  Q4 59 14 80 4 
			   
			 2006 Q1 58 13 80 5 
			  Q2 58 14 80 5 
			  Q3 61 16 80 5 
			  Q4 59 14 80 5 
			   
			 2007 Q1 57 14 80 5 
			  Q2 56 14 80 5 
			  Q3 59 16 80 4 
			  Q4 59 13 81 4 
			   
			 2008 Q1 57 13 81 5 
			  Q2 56 14 81 5 
			  Q3 59 17 80 5 
			   
			   Men 
			 1998 Q1 63 15 87 7 
			  Q2 63 15 87 7 
			  Q3 68 16 88 7 
			  Q4 64 15 88 6 
			   
			 1999 Q1 63 15 88 6 
			  Q2 63 15 88 6 
			  Q3 68 15 89 6 
			  Q4 66 13 89 6 
			   
			 2000 Q1 64 14 88 6 
			  Q2 64 13 88 5 
			  Q3 68 14 89 5 
			  Q4 65 13 89 5 
			   
			 2001 Q1 63 14 88 5 
			  Q2 64 12 88 5 
			  Q3 67 15 88 5 
			  Q4 65 13 88 6 
			   
			 2002 Q1 63 14 88 6 
			  Q2 63 13 88 5 
			  Q3 65 15 88 5 
			  Q4 65 13 89 5 
			   
			 2003 Q1 61 15 87 6 
			  Q2 62 13 88 5 
			  Q3 65 15 88 5 
			  Q4 63 13 87 5 
			   
			 2004 Q1 62 13 87 5 
			  Q2 62 12 87 5 
			  Q3 65 15 87 4 
			  Q4 63 13 88 5 
			   
			 2005 Q1 61 14 88 5 
			  Q2 61 14 88 4 
			  Q3 63 16 88 4 
			  Q4 61 15 89 4 
			   
			 2006 Q1 59 15 88 5 
			  Q2 59 16 88 5 
			  Q3 63 17 88 5 
			  Q4 61 15 88 5 
			   
			 2007 Q1 59 16 88 6 
			  Q2 58 16 89 4 
			  Q3 61 17 89 4 
			  Q4 60 15 89 4 
			   
			 2008 Q1 58 16 89 5 
			  Q2 58 16 88 5 
			  Q3 60 19 87 5 
			   
			   Women 
			 1998 Q1 59 11 69 6 
			  Q2 59 12 69 6 
			  Q3 63 13 69 6 
			  Q4 61 11 70 5 
			   
			 1999 Q1 59 11 71 6 
			  Q2 58 11 71 5 
			  Q3 63 12 72 5 
			  Q4 61 11 72 5 
			   
			 2000 Q1 59 12 71 5 
			  Q2 59 10 72 5 
			  Q3 62 13 72 4 
			  Q4 60 11 72 4 
			   
			 2001 Q1 59 10 71 4 
			  Q2 59 9 72 4 
			  Q3 61 12 71 5 
			  Q4 61 10 71 4 
			   
			 2002 Q1 59 10 71 5 
			  Q2 59 9 71 5 
			  Q3 62 12 71 5 
			  Q4 60 10 71 4 
			   
			 2003 Q1 58 10 72 4 
			  Q2 58 10 71 4 
			  Q3 60 12 72 4 
			  Q4 60 10 72 4 
			   
			 2004 Q1 59 10 72 4 
			  Q2 58 10 72 4 
			  Q3 60 13 72 4 
			  Q4 60 11 72 4 
			   
			 2005 Q1 58 10 73 4 
			  Q2 57 11 72 4 
			  Q3 59 12 72 4 
			  Q4 57 12 72 5 
			   
			 2006 Q1 57 11 72 5 
			  Q2 57 12 73 5 
			  Q3 58 14 72 5 
			  Q4 58 12 72 5 
			   
			 2007 Q1 56 12 72 5 
			  Q2 55 13 72 5 
			  Q3 58 14 72 5 
			  Q4 57 12 72 4 
			   
			 2008 Q1 56 11 73 5 
			  Q2 55 12 73 5 
			  Q3 57 15 72 6 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			35 to 49  50-60 
			Employment rate  Unemployment rate  Employment rate  Unemployment rate 
			   People 
			 1998 Q1 81 4 67 5 
			  Q2 81 4 67 4 
			  Q3 81 4 68 4 
			  Q4 81 4 68 4 
			   
			 1999 Q1 81 5 68 4 
			  Q2 81 4 68 4 
			  Q3 81 4 68 4 
			  Q4 82 4 68 4 
			   
			 2000 Q1 81 4 68 4 
			  Q2 82 4 69 4 
			  Q3 82 4 69 4 
			  Q4 82 3 69 4 
			   
			 2001 Q1 82 4 69 3 
			  Q2 82 4 70 3 
			  Q3 82 3 69 3 
			  Q4 82 3 70 3 
			   
			 2002 Q1 82 4 69 3 
			  Q2 82 4 70 3 
			  Q3 82 4 70 3 
			  Q4 82 3 70 4 
			   
			 2003 Q1 82 3 70 4 
			  Q2 82 3 71 3 
			  Q3 82 3 71 3 
			  Q4 82 3 71 3 
			   
			 2004 Q1 82 3 71 3 
			  Q2 82 3 71 3 
			  Q3 82 3 71 3 
			  Q4 82 3 72 3 
			   
			 2005 Q1 82 3 72 3 
			  Q2 82 3 72 3 
			  Q3 83 3 72 3 
			  Q4 82 3 72 3 
			   
			 2006 Q1 82 4 72 3 
			  Q2 82 4 73 3 
			  Q3 82 4 72 3 
			  Q4 82 4 72 3 
			   
			 2007 Q1 82 4 72 3 
			  Q2 82 3 72 3 
			  Q3 82 3 72 3 
			  Q4 82 3 73 3 
			   
			 2008 Q1 82 4 73 3 
			  Q2 83 4 73 3 
			  Q3 82 4 73 3 
			   
			   Men 
			 1998 Q1 87 5 74 6 
			  Q2 87 5 75 5 
			  Q3 87 5 75 5 
			  Q4 88 5 76 5 
			   
			 1999 Q1 87 5 76 5 
			  Q2 88 5 75 5 
			  Q3 88 5 75 5 
			  Q4 88 4 75 5 
			   
			 2000 Q1 88 4 75 5 
			  Q2 89 4 75 5 
			  Q3 89 4 76 5 
			  Q4 89 4 76 4 
			   
			 2001 Q1 89 4 77 4 
			  Q2 88 4 77 4 
			  Q3 88 4 77 4 
			  Q4 88 4 77 3 
			   
			 2002 Q1 88 4 76 4 
			  Q2 88 4 77 4 
			  Q3 88 4 77 4 
			  Q4 89 4 77 4 
			   
			 2003 Q1 88 4 77 5 
			  Q2 89 4 78 4 
			  Q3 89 4 78 4 
			  Q4 89 3 77 3 
			   
			 2004 Q1 89 3 77 3 
			  Q2 89 3 78 4 
			  Q3 89 3 78 3 
			  Q4 89 3 78 3 
			   
			 2005 Q1 89 3 78 4 
			  Q2 88 3 79 3 
			  Q3 89 3 79 3 
			  Q4 88 4 79 3 
			   
			 2006 Q1 88 4 79 3 
			  Q2 88 4 79 3 
			  Q3 89 4 78 4 
			  Q4 89 4 78 4 
			   
			 2007 Q1 89 4 78 4 
			  Q2 89 3 78 4 
			  Q3 89 3 78 4 
			  Q4 89 3 79 4 
			   
			 2008 Q1 89 3 79 4 
			  Q2 89 4 79 4 
			  Q3 88 4 79 4 
			   
			   Women 
			 1998 Q1 74 4 59 3 
			  Q2 74 4 60 3 
			  Q3 74 4 60 3 
			  Q4 75 4 60 3 
			   
			 1999 Q1 75 4 61 3 
			  Q2 75 4 61 3 
			  Q3 74 4 60 3 
			  Q4 75 4 61 3 
			   
			 2000 Q1 75 4 61 3 
			  Q2 75 4 62 3 
			  Q3 75 4 62 3 
			  Q4 75 3 62 3 
			   
			 2001 Q1 75 4 62 2 
			  Q2 76 3 63 2 
			  Q3 75 3 62 2 
			  Q4 75 3 63 3 
			   
			 2002 Q1 76 3 63 3 
			  Q2 76 3 63 3 
			  Q3 75 3 63 3 
			  Q4 76 3 64 3 
			   
			 2003 Q1 76 3 64 3 
			  Q2 76 3 65 2 
			  Q3 75 3 65 3 
			  Q4 76 3 64 2 
			   
			 2004 Q1 76 3 65 2 
			  Q2 76 3 65 2 
			  Q3 75 3 65 2 
			  Q4 76 3 65 2 
			   
			 2005 Q1 76 3 65 2 
			  Q2 76 3 66 2 
			  Q3 77 3 66 2 
			  Q4 77 3 65 2 
			   
			 2006 Q1 77 3 66 2 
			  Q2 76 4 66 3 
			  Q3 76 3 66 3 
			  Q4 76 4 67 3 
			   
			 2007 Q1 76 4 67 3 
			  Q2 76 4 67 2 
			  Q3 76 4 67 3 
			  Q4 76 4 67 3 
			   
			 2008 Q1 76 4 67 3 
			  Q2 77 3 68 2 
			  Q3 76 3 68 3 
			 (1) Employment rate is calculated as the number of people in employment as a percentage of the population in the individual age group. The unemployment rate is calculated as the number of people unemployed as a percentage of the economically active population.  Source: Labour Force Survey

JUSTICE

Antisocial Behaviour: Fixed Penalties

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many penalty notices for disorder have been issued in each of the last four years; and how many have not been paid in each year.

Maria Eagle: The number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) issued and not paid within the suspended enforcement period in England and Wales for each year from 2004 to 2007 (latest published) are in the table.
	Under the PND Scheme, recipients have 21 days in which either to pay the penalty or request a court hearing. If no action is taken, a fine of one and a half times the penalty amount is registered against an offender by the magistrates court. The overall fine payment rate at court is 87 per cent.; the courts fine registration system cannot differentiate between those fines arising from unpaid PNDs and any other fine.
	
		
			  Number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued to offenders of all ages and not paid( 1)  in England and Wales, 2004 to 2007( 2) 
			   Issued  Not paid 
			 2004 63,639 30,561 
			 2005 146,481 69,234 
			 2006 201,197 96,651 
			 2007 207,544 100,619 
			 (1) Not paid = not paid within the suspended enforcement period. For a further breakdown, please see table 7.2 of the Criminal Statistics 2007 publication. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Community Orders

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) breach rate of community sentences and  (b) imprisonment rate for those who breached community sentences was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: In response to part  (a) of the question, the following table shows the proportion of community sentences that terminated in England and Wales in 2007 (the latest year for which the figures are available) for positive and negative reasons, including failing to comply with the order and conviction for further offences.
	The information contained in this table can be found in chapter 5 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2007 located online at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	
		
			  Terminations of court orders by reason, England and Wales, 2007 
			   Number of persons and percentages 
			  Community Rehabilitation Order  
			 Ran their full course 77 
			 Replaced by conditional discharge order 0 
			   
			 Terminated early for:  
			 Good progress 6 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 6 
			 Conviction of offence 6 
			 Other reasons 4 
			 All CROs (=100%) (number) 9,380 
			   
			  Community Rehabilitation Order element of Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Order  
			 Ran their full course 65 
			 Replaced by conditional discharge order 0 
			   
			 Terminated early for:  
			 Good progress 6 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 12 
			 Conviction of offence 10 
			 Other reasons 7 
			 All CPROs (=100%) (number) 3,171 
			   
			  Community Punishment Order  
			 Specified hours completed 46 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 21 
			 Conviction of an offence 10 
			 Other change in circumstances 3 
			 Warrant unexecuted 5 
			 Other reason 16 
			 All CPOs (=100%) (number) 9,967 
			   
			  Community Punishment Order element of Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Order  
			 Specified hours completed 40 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 20 
			 Conviction of an offence 14 
			 Other change in circumstances 3 
			 Warrant unexecuted 3 
			 Other reason 19 
			 All CPROs (=100%) (number) 2,510 
			   
			  Community Order  
			 Ran their full course 47 
			   
			 Terminated early for:  
			 Good progress 10 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 22 
			 Conviction of an offence 12 
			 Other reasons 10 
			 All Community orders (=100%) (number) 113,829 
			   
			  Suspended Sentence Order  
			 Ran their full course 46 
			   
			 Terminated early for:  
			 Good progress 6 
			 Failure to comply with requirements 22 
			 Conviction of an offence 18 
			 Other reasons 9 
			 All Suspended sentence orders (=100%) (number) 28,269 
			   
			  DTTO  
			 Ran their full course 59 
		
	
	In response to  (b), the data held centrally on terminations of community sentences does not include information on whether the termination resulted in imprisonment.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 744-45W, on departmental temporary employment, how many staff were recruited through each company in each year; and for how long on average staff recruited through these companies worked for the Department in each year.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice was established on 9 May 2007. Information is only available for a proportion of the Ministry of Justice estate.
	During the financial year 2007-08, 1,846 temporary staff were recruited utilising the Department's contract with Kelly Services. The average period of employment was 1.7 months.
	Data in respect of how many staff were recruited under the Home Office framework contract, through each company and the average period of employment can be provided only at disproportionate cost, as this data was not held centrally in the required period. This information can be determined internally only by examining each individual purchase order raised in the period. Undertaking this activity would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Work Experience

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals have worked in his Department on  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid work experience or internships in each year since its inception; on average how many hours a week were worked by such people in each year; what types of work each was involved in; what proportion were in full-time education; what proportion did not complete their set period of work experience; and how much those who received remuneration were paid on average per week in each year.

Michael Wills: Since the inception of the Department in May 2007, the Ministry of Justice has taken on 11 individuals on centrally co-ordinated, paid placements. Not all work experience is organised centrally.
	Other opportunities are offered by business areas, but this information is not collated centrally and could be determined only at disproportionate cost.
	In 2007 the Department took on two Windsor Fellows and three interns from the Cabinet Office co-ordinated Ethnic Minority Summer Development Programme; and in 2008 it took on six interns from the Cabinet Office co-ordinated Ethnic Minority Summer Development Programme.
	All interns worked a 36-hour week with lunch breaks.
	The type of work they were involved in is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Intern  Business Area  Work Undertaken 
			  2007   
			 Intern 1 Probate Service Area Office Reviewed and analysed information, wrote a report on findings. 
			 Intern 2 Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman Collated and analysed information, produced a report of findings. 
			 Intern 3 Economics and Statistics Division Conducted economic research and market analysis, and wrote a report on findings. 
			 Intern 4 Learning and Development Division Assisted in reviewing, designing and implementing a course. 
			 Intern 5 Equality, Diversity and Humans Rights Division Compiled response to proposals in a Green Paper. Co-ordinated work arising out of a review. Supported team in implementing a strategy. 
			  2008   
			 Intern 1 Tribunals Service Project workreviewed processes, analysed problems, produced a report of findings. 
			 Intern 2 Tribunals Service Project team memberdrafted Equality Impact Assessment and Project's Benefits Management Strategy, updated risk registers, supported members of the team 
			 Intern 3 Area Director's Office, Civil and Family Project worktook forward and supported a number of small projects 
			 Intern 4 Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Division Helped team set up workshops and other events. Supported team in preparing the Secretary of States' Report on Disability. 
			 Intern 5 OCJR Helped facilitate and organise a National Conference. Supported the commissioning, collation and analysis of cross-governmental contributions to an annual report. 
			 Intern 6 Analytical Services Directorate Completed a business plan, carried out Research Quality Assurance on the plan, provided support to a best value tendering project. 
		
	
	The proportion in full-time education was 40 per cent. in 2007 and 50 per cent. in 2008.
	All individuals completed their set period of work experience.
	In 2007 the remuneration received was on average 371 and in 2008, 390.

Euthanasia

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) representations he has received from and  (b) discussions he has had since October 2008 with hon. and right hon. Members wishing to amend the Coroners and Justice Bill to (i) repeal and (ii) clarify the provisions of the existing tow on the prohibition of assisted suicide; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I have received four letters from hon. Members and right hon. Members during this period. Of these, one was on behalf of a constituent who wanted the law to be changed so that terminally ill people have the right to seek medical assistance to die; and three were on behalf of constituents who were concerned about the application of the law in this area to websites promoting suicide and suicide methods.
	With regard to the issue of legalising assisted suicide, the Government believe that this is an issue of individual conscience and hence a matter for Parliament to decide. Proposals to legalise doctor-assisted dying have been debated in Parliament on a number of occasions but none of the previous private Members' Bills has progressed further than Second Reading. As to the concerns about possible links between suicide and the internet, I informed the House on 17 September 2008,  Official Report, column 142WS, that we intend to update the language of the Suicide Act in a way which we hope will make clear that it applies as much to online actions as it does offline. I have had one meeting with an hon. Member about this.

Human Trafficking: Refuges

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims of human trafficking have gone missing whilst in safe accommodation in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Data on the number of victims of human trafficking who have gone missing over the past five years is not collected.

Human Trafficking: Telephone Services

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Government has recently considered establishing a helpline in order to provide information for victims of trafficking.

Maria Eagle: The Government funded Poppy project already has a well known telephone number that is used in awareness campaigns and for information for victims.

Offenders: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will estimate the number of  (a) ex-offenders living in the principal seaside towns,  (b) ex-offenders per 10,000 population in such towns and  (c) ex-offenders per 10,000 population nationally.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1238-39W, which stated:
	Prisons record the address to which discharged prisoners state they will be going, but are not able to confirm whether ex-offenders actually go to this address or whether they remain there.
	Individual probation areas maintain records of offenders who are serving community punishments or who are under supervision following release from prison on licence, but do not generally keep records of ex-offenders. Those records that they do maintain are on an area basis rather than a specific town.
	We therefore have no basis on which to estimate the number of ex-offenders living in specific locations.

Powers of Attorney

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what further steps he will take to reduce the time taken by the Office of the Public Guardian for the registration of lasting powers of attorney.

Bridget Prentice: Currently the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) aims to register all Lasting Powers of Attorney that do not contain defects within nine weeks of receipt. This includes a statutory six-week waiting period during which objections to registration can be made.
	Where there are defects within an application we aim to inform parties of the problem within two weeks of receipt. Timescales for the processing of applications beyond that point will be dependent upon the nature of the defect and how easily it can be rectified. The OPG has already changed its processes in relation to applications with rectifiable defects to trigger the statutory waiting period from the same point as for valid applications. Previous practice was to wait until the fault was resolved before triggering
	the waiting period. This has potentially reduced the time taken to register applications containing defects (where they can be resolved) by up to six weeks.
	The OPG is undertaking a review of the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to determine how well the Act's aims are being met in practice. Among the areas to be looked at are the current LPA forms and the processes by which they are made and registered. We will be considering carefully to what extent the time taken to register applications can be reduced as part of this work.
	However we need to keep in mind that the six-week statutory waiting period forms a large part of the current timescale. This is an important safeguard and allows objections to be made to the Public Guardian in relation to the application. We would need to think carefully about whether this period could be reduced significantly without limiting its value.

Prison Service: Industrial Relations

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what industrial relations agreements are in place between his Department and the Prison Service on the one hand and  (a) the Prison Officers Association and  (b) the Prison Governors Association on the other; and what contractual or other rights (i) the Prison Officers Association and (ii) the Prison Governors Association have with regard to access to the Prison Service Pay Review Body.

David Hanson: NOMS recognises the POA for collective bargaining purposes. However, following the POA's withdrawal from the Joint Industrial Relations Procedural Agreement in May, there is no formal industrial relations agreement in place. However, a new local (prison level) disputes procedure was agreed and implemented in November 2007 and further negotiations will take place on developing a new national disputes procedure.
	There is a Voluntary Agreement in place between the Prison Service and the PGA, which includes arrangements for progressing industrial relations disputes.
	The Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB) was set up by means of statutory instrument in April 2001. There is no contractual right for the Prison Officers Association or the Prison Governors Association to access the PSPRB.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his estimate is of the number of people who  (a) started and  (b) completed offending behaviour programmes (i) in prison and (ii) on probation in each of the last five years; and what the rate of re-offending was for each, broken down by type of programme.

David Hanson: The following tables sets out the estimated number of starts or commencements and completions for accredited offending behaviour and drug treatment programmes in prison and probation from 2003-04 to 2007-08.
	
		
			  Prison 
			   Programme  Starts( 1)  Completions 
			 2003-04 Offending Behaviour 10,253 9,638 
			  Drug Treatment 4,703 2,418 
			 2004-05 Offending Behaviour 8,885 8,352 
			  Drug Treatment 7,609 4,902 
			 2005-06 Offending Behaviour 8,448 7,941 
			  Drug Treatment 10,743 8,011 
			 2006-07 Offending Behaviour 9,155 8,609 
			  Drug Treatment 11,150 8,349 
			 2007-08 Offending Behaviour 9,376 8,658 
			  Drug Treatment 11,319 8,110 
			 (1) The figures for offending behaviour programme starts are estimates 
		
	
	
		
			  Probation 
			   Programme  Commencements  Completions 
			 2003-04 Domestic violence 360 178 
			  Sex offender 1,051 624 
			  Other(1) 20,880 12,243 
			 2004-05 Domestic violence 621 298 
			  Sex offender 981 803 
			  Other 20,123 13,717 
			 2005-06 Domestic violence 1,553 586 
			  Sex offender 1,155 763 
			  Other 16,369 12,252 
			 2006-07 Domestic violence 2,972 1,817 
			  Sex offender 1,417 1,301 
			  Other 19,919 16,753 
			 2007-08 Domestic violence 3,955 2,560 
			  Sex offender 1,582 1,360 
			  Other 19,799 14,531 
			 (1) Other includes general offending behaviour programmes, substance misuse programmes and violence programmes 
		
	
	There will be a difference between the two sets of figures as offenders may begin and complete a programme in different years and some offenders will fail to complete the programme. The reasons for non completion vary but include, transfer, breach of programme requirement, removal of programme requirement by the court or receipt of a custodial or other sentence. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
	Reconviction rates are not measured on a programme by programme basis. Instead NOMS relies on research evidence to determine effectiveness.

Prisons: Construction

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the expected annual capital cost of the prison building programme in each year between 2007-08 and 2014-15.

David Hanson: The following table shows the current estimated capital cost of the capacity programme in each financial year from 2007-08 to 2011-12. This does not include capital costs for the three prison clusters, but does include an allowance for the purchase of land for the first prison cluster.
	
		
			  Current Forecast  Capital (  million ) 
			 2007-08 373.39 
			 2008-09 413.25 
			 2009-10 494.44 
			 2010-11 327.02 
			 2011-12 295.3

Prisons: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison places his Department expects to be available in Essex in each year from 2007 to 2012.

David Hanson: There are no plans at present to expand HMPYOI Chelmsford and HMPYOI Bullwood Hall, which have a combined operational capacity of 923.
	We are currently undertaking searches for appropriate sites for three prison clusters (formerly known as Titans) in regions of high strategic need, including London and the South East, but no final decisions have yet been made.

Prisons: Mental Health Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the additional cost per prison placement of treating in prison a prisoner with a severe psychiatric disorder.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	No estimate has been made. A person whose mental illness is too severe to justify their remaining in prison is transferred to national health service secure services. All mental health services within prisons have now been mainstreamed with the NHS, and it is the responsibility of the relevant primary care trust to commission these services.

Prisons: Mental Health Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what training is provided for prison officers who deal with offenders with severe psychotic disorders; and what the cost of such training was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	Over 600,000 funding has been available over three years to provide mental health awareness training for prison officers and staff. This funding is available for 2008-09 and will continue to provide staff with training and the skills to better understand and support prisoners with mental health problems in custody.

Prisons: Per Capita Costs

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the average cost was of keeping a prisoner for a day in each  (a) prison establishment and  (b) young offender institution in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average cost was of keeping a person in prison for  (a) one week and  (b) one year in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The following table shows the cost per prisoner per day for each prison establishment and young offender institution for 2007-08.
	The overall average resource cost per prisoner in England and Wales in 2007-08 was 39,000 (to the nearest 500) this equates to 750 per week (to the nearest 10).
	There are a number of factors which will cause differences in prison costs, such as the size, age, location and category of the prison, the mix of prisoners (including gender and age) and the internal regime and rehabilitation work followed.
	The costs comprise (a) the public sector establishments' direct resource expenditure as published in the HMPS annual report and accounts, increased by an apportionment of costs borne centrally by HMPS and the National Offender Management Service and (b) the resource expenditure of contracted-out prisons also increased by certain costs borne centrally. This involves some estimation. Income from the Youth Justice Board (YJB) in respect of services recharged to the YJB is excluded in order to show the overall cost to the Ministry of Justice. The figures do not include prisoners held in police and court cells under Operation Safeguard, nor expenditure met by other Government Departments (e.g. for health and education). The prisoner escort service is included.
	
		
			  Establishment name  Total cost per prisoner per day () 
			  Male category B (9)  
			 Albany 102 
			 Dovegate(1) 90 
			 Garth 122 
			 Gartree 114 
			 Grendon 113 
			 Kingston 125 
			 Lowdham Grange(1) 86 
			 Parkhurst 122 
			 Rye Hill(1) 84 
			   
			  Male category C (38)  
			 Acklington 83 
			 Ashwell 77 
			 Blundeston 94 
			 Buckley Hall 107 
			 Bullwood Hall 146 
			 Camp Hill 82 
			 Canterbury 106 
			 Channings Wood 92 
			 Coldingley 112 
			 Dartmoor 89 
			 Edmunds Hill 93 
			 Erlestoke 90 
			 Everthorpe 82 
			 Featherstone 86 
			 Guys Marsh 82 
			 Haverigg 95 
			 Highpoint 79 
			 Kennet(2) 253 
			 Lancaster 129 
			 Lindholme 92 
			 Littlehey 76 
			 Maidstone 100 
			 Moorland 93 
			 Mount 93 
			 Onley 101 
			 Ranby 82 
			 Risley 80 
			 Shepton Mallet 127 
			 Stafford 81 
			 Stocken 93 
			 Usk/Prescoed 83 
			 Verne 76 
			 Wayland 80 
			 Wealstun 94 
			 Wellingborough 86 
			 Wharton 88 
			 The Wolds(1) 104 
			 Wymott 85 
			   
			  Male dispersal (5)  
			 Frankland 201 
			 Full Sutton 199 
			 Long Lartin 226 
			 Wakefield 156 
			 Whitemoor 273 
			   
			  Female closed (5)  
			 Bronzefield(1) 160 
			 Cookham Wood(3) 464 
			 Downview 128 
			 Foston Hall 160 
			 Send 149 
			   
			  Female local (5)  
			 Eastwood Park 130 
			 Holloway 212 
			 Low Newton 160 
			 New Hall 152 
			 Styal 131 
			   
			  Female open (2)  
			 Askham Grange 133 
			 East Sutton Park 81 
			   
			  Male closed YOI (14)  
			 Aylesbury 137 
			 Brinsford 143 
			 Castington 148 
			 Deerbolt 128 
			 Feltham 215 
			 Glen Parva 97 
			 Hindley 142 
			 Lancaster Farms 147 
			 Northallerton 91 
			 Portland 121 
			 Reading 132 
			 Rochester 112 
			 Stoke Heath 109 
			 Swinfen Hall 100 
			   
			  Male juvenile (5)  
			 Ashfield(1) 169 
			 Huntercombe 144 
			 Warren Hill 153 
			 Werrington 176 
			 Wetherby 133 
			   
			  Male local (36)  
			 Altcourse(1) 101 
			 Bedford 91 
			 Belmarsh 192 
			 Birmingham 86 
			 Blakenhurst 83 
			 Bristol 109 
			 Brixton 108 
			 Bullingdon 93 
			 Cardiff 85 
			 Chelmsford 111 
			 Doncaster(1) 86 
			 Dorchester 127 
			 Durham 94 
			 Exeter 109 
			 Forest Bank(1) 70 
			 Gloucester 119 
			 High Down 116 
			 Holme House 88 
			 Hull 83 
			 Leeds 96 
			 Leicester 100 
			 Lewes 104 
			 Lincoln 90 
			 Liverpool 79 
			 Manchester 110 
			 Norwich 117 
			 Nottingham 112 
			 Parc(1) 109 
			 Pentonville 103 
			 Preston 101 
			 Shrewsbury 96 
			 Swansea 88 
			 Wandsworth 86 
			 Winchester 114 
			 Woodhill 159 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 96 
			   
			  Male open (6)  
			 Ford 73 
			 Hollesley Bay 101 
			 Kirkham 100 
			 Leyhill 107 
			 North Sea Camp 83 
			 Sudbury 65 
			   
			  Male open YOI (1)  
			 Thorn Cross 165 
			   
			  Semi open (7)  
			 Blantyre House 104 
			 Dover 102 
			 Drake Hall 113 
			 Haslar 116 
			 Kirklevington 87 
			 Latchmere House 90 
			 Morton Hall 99 
			   
			  Cluster (2)  
			 Hewell 121 
			 Sheppey 90 
			   
			  Mixed Male local and Female closed  
			 Peterborough(1) 92 
			 (1) Denotes contracted-out prisons. (2) Kennet: Opened in July 2007, therefore resulting in abnormal unit costs. (3) Includes costs relating to re-role from female to male establishment.  Notes: 1. Establishments are categorised by their main role as at the end of 2007-08. Establishments that have more than one role have been placed in the category that represents the primary or dominant function of the prison. For example, HMP Moorland is designated as category C adult but includes a large young offender population. For this reason, performance of prisons within a category cannot necessarily be compared on a like for like basis. 2. YOI refers to young offender institutions. 3. Data for Elmley, Stanford Hill and Swaleside is reported under the Sheppey cluster. Similarly, data for Brockhill and Hewell Grange is reported together as a cluster, listed as Hewell. 4. There are a number of factors which will cause differences in prison costs, such as the size, age, location and category of the prison, the prisoner population (including gender and age) and the internal regime and rehabilitation work followed.

Prisons: Suicide

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many self-inflicted deaths there were in (a) all prisons, (b) young offender institutions, (c) male prisons and (d) female prisons in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Due to the mixed roll of some prisons and changes in those roles over time the numbers for each category used in this question can be answered in several ways. It would also, as worded, exclude four self-inflicted deaths in custody for the period which occurred while on escort. In order to avoid any ambiguity arising from types of prisons we would prefer to answer gender and age related questions on self-inflicted deaths in the following way and trust that this will suffice.
	
		
			  Sel f-inflicted deaths by gender an d age group 
			  Age range  Gender  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008( 1) 
			 21 and above Female 9 12 3 3 8 1 
			  Male 74 77 63 62 77 51 
			 Under 21 Female 5 1 1 0 0 0 
			  Male 6 5 11 2 7 4 
			 Total  94 95 78 67 92 56 
			 1 As at 11 December 2008 
		
	
	The Ministry of Justice and the Prison Service are committed to reducing the number of such tragic incidents. Good care and support from staff save many lives, but such instances go largely unreported. Prisons successfully keep safe in any given month approximately 1,500 prisoners assessed to be at particular risk.

Reparation by Offenders

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the fourth report of the evaluation of restorative justice; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Our assessment of the effectiveness of restorative justice for adults following the fourth and final report of the evaluation of the crime reduction programme restorative justice pilots is that restorative justice can deliver high levels of victim satisfaction, and may also help to reduce reoffending. We are therefore considering what further encouragement we can provide to support the continued growth of adult restorative justice, in particular, as a means of improving victim satisfaction with the criminal justice process.

Road Traffic Offences: Convictions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many  (a) males and  (b) females were convicted of offences in England and Wales under sections (i) 14(3), (ii) 15(2) and (iii) 15(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1998 in 2007;
	(2)  how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) 17 to 24, (ii) 25 to 30, (iii) 31 to 35, (iv) 36 to 40 and (v) over 40 years old were (A) prosecuted and (B) convicted for (1) failing to comply with a road sign, (2) offences under sections (x) 14(3), (y) 15(2) and (z) 15(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1998, (3) failing to provide a breath specimen for analysis, (4) failing to stop for a police constable and (5) disobeying a police constable stopping traffic in (aa) the Essex Police area, (bb) the Metropolitan Police area and (cc) England and Wales in 2007.

Maria Eagle: The number of males and females proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for various motoring offences, by sex and age group, within the Essex police force area, Metropolitan police force area, and England and Wales in 2007 can be seen in tables 1 to 3 which have been placed in the Library.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Airguns

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many registered airsoft skirmishers there are in the UK;
	(2)  how many registered airsoft skirmishing sites there are; and how many there were in December 2007.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not available centrally.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the proportion of crimes involving violence and disorder which are related to irresponsible drinking.

Alan Campbell: We do not have an estimate for crimes involving violence and disorder specifically related to irresponsible drinking. However, 'Crime in England and Wales 2007-08' indicates that 45 per cent. of victims of violent incidents believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol. Supplementary tables of 'Crime in England and Wales 2006-07' show that 18 per cent. of all violence occurred in a pub or club and 48 per cent. of all violent offences were committed between Friday evening and Monday morning.

Animal Experiments: Primates

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has  (a) inspected and  (b) approved an overseas primate supply or breeding facility in Cambodia for the export of primates to the UK for the purposes of scientific research; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: We have previously considered the suitability of a laboratory primate breeding centre in Cambodia, and are reviewing its potential suitability in the light of additional documentation recently received. However, to date we have not received any requests from UK project licence holders to authorise the use of non-human primates acquired from breeding centres in Cambodia. No approval for such requests will be considered until the centre has been visited by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate.

Animal Experiments: Primates

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will extend the ban on the importation of wild-caught primates to include primates imported for the purposes of scientific research from countries where there is an indigenous population of that species.

Meg Hillier: We have no plans to do so. The use under project licence authority of any non-human primate originating from an overseas source requires the express and prior approval of the Secretary of State which is given only if the conditions at the breeding centre are acceptable to the Home Office at that time. The Home Office appraisal of overseas primate breeding centres is an ongoing process taking account of additional relevant information as it becomes available, whether that be from the breeding centre itself, from users or other stakeholders. Part of this appraisal is to ensure, as far as is practical, from the records maintained, that the non-human primates are not wild caught.

Borders: Security

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of establishing a permanent security presence on duty at all times at all ports of entry to the UK.

Jacqui Smith: No such estimate is available.

British National Party

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information she holds on whether allegations of threats of violence have been reported to the police by members of the British National Party since the Party's membership list was posted on the internet; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The police have produced a strategic threat assessment on risks to members of the British National Party following the publication of the party's membership on the internet. That assessment has been copied to the Home Office and includes a summary of threats of violence that have been reported to the police.

Burglary

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of burglary from a dwelling were recorded in each month of  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008 to date.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 15 December 2008
	Police forces in England and Wales are asked to provide monthly cumulative data for use in the Home Office's quarterly and annual crime statistics publication. However, the validation processes relate to quarterly data rather than monthly and therefore quarterly data for offences of burglary in a dwelling are given in the following table. Quarterly data for July to September 2008 will be published on 22 January 2009.
	
		
			  Offences of burglary in a dwelling recorded by the police in England and Wales 
			  Quarter  Number of offences 
			 January to March 2007 73,502 
			 April to June 2007 66,883 
			 July to September 2007 66,937 
			 October to December 2007 72,453 
			 January to March 2008 74,431 
			 April to June 2008 65,295

Driving Under Influence: Thames Valley Police

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests for drink-driving offences there were in the Thames Valley police force area in each of the last 20 quarters for which records are available, broken down by basic command unit.

Alan Campbell: The data requested are not collected centrally.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery.
	Offences of drink-driving under the Road Traffic Act 1988 are summary offences that do not form a part of the arrests collection. Additionally, data on arrests for the offence of 'causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs' cannot be separated from within the 'violence against the person' offence group.
	Data are broken down at police force area level only.

Genetics: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  on how many occasions personal information and DNA samples which  (a) were planned to be loaded onto and  (b) had been loaded onto the national DNA database have been lost; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what procedures are in place to ensure the security of personal information and DNA samples that  (a) are waiting to be processed into a DNA profile and  (b) have been loaded onto the national DNA database; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: DNA samples taken by police forces are sent to accredited forensic suppliers for processing, to produce a profile for loading on the National DNA Database (NDNAD). On behalf of the NDNAD Strategy Board, the Custodian sets the technical and procedural standards to which the laboratories must adhere and monitors their performance against these standards. These standards are all contained within the Custodian's quality management system and shared with the laboratories. Security measures on the NDNAD itself are also managed by the Custodian.
	Direct access to information on the NDNAD is restricted to a limited number of designated personnel under the control of the Custodian, either directly, or under a contract awarded by the Home Office to the Forensic Science Service (FSS) for operation and maintenance of the NDNAD and development of its IT systems. Throughout the lifetime of the contract, the FSS are required to demonstrate compliance with specified security requirements.
	Police and law enforcement personnel do not have access to the information on the NDNAD, but receive reports from the Custodian's staff of matches between DNA taken from crime scenes and that taken from individuals.
	There has been one incident affecting DNA profiles which were to be loaded onto the NDNAD. This was the recent occasion when a disc containing profiles taken from crime scenes in the Netherlands was mislaid and subsequently recovered, though it never left the secure premises of the Crown Prosecution Service. The disc did not contain any personal information, as the DNA profiles were left by unknown persons at crime scenes in the Netherlands.
	There have been no incidents when data loaded onto the NDNAD has been lost.

Genetics: Databases

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the increase in the number of profiles on the police DNA database over the last year for which figures exist represents persons who were not found guilty of any offence; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The National DNA Database (NDNAD) does not contain information about criminal records, as this is not necessary for its function of matching DNA from crime scenes with DNA from individuals. Criminal record information is held on the Police National Computer (PNC). The information sought could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Human Trafficking

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 9 June 2008,  Official Report, column 75W, on human trafficking: females, what steps are being taken by the  (a) Serious Organised Crime Agency and  (b) United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre to improve collection of intelligence of human trafficking; and when she expects improved statistics on the extent of human trafficking in the United Kingdom to be published.

Jacqui Smith: SOCA produces the National Intelligence Requirement (NIR) for Serious Organised Crime, which systematically identifies gaps in knowledge around all key threat areas, including human trafficking. Agencies report against the NIR throughout the year in order to inform the UK Threat Assessment (UKTA) of Serious Organised Crime, which is collated by SOCA on behalf of UK law enforcement and published annually. The resultant improvements in knowledge of human trafficking will be reflected in the UKTA.
	This work is supported by the UKHTC through its collaboration with SOCA and through its role as the central repository of all data and intelligence on human trafficking. We already have an estimate of the number of women trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation. We hope to be able to revise this estimate by the end of 2009.

Human Trafficking

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of human trafficking were identified during police operations in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Data on the number of victims identified during police operations is not collected centrally. The police did collect data on the number of victims recovered during the co-ordinated enforcement campaigns Operation Pentameter 1 and 2 which is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Campaign  Victims recovered 
			 2006 Pentameter 1 88 
			
			 2007-08 Pentameter 2 (1)167 
			   (2)5 
			 (1) Victims of sexual exploitation. (2) Victims of trafficking for domestic servitude/forced labour.

Human Trafficking

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) arrests and  (b) convictions there have been for human trafficking offences under Operation Pentameter 2.

Jacqui Smith: Of the 528 arrests as a result of Operation Pentameter 299 were for human trafficking. Many of those arrested were charged with offences other than human trafficking, such as causing or inciting prostitution for gain and money laundering offences.
	It is not possible to disaggregate the conviction figures to provide a breakdown of convictions resulting from Operation Pentameter 2 and many cases arising from that operation are still progressing through the criminal justice system.

Human Trafficking

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's definition is of a person who has been trafficked.

Alan Campbell: The UK uses the definition of trafficking set out in the Protocol to the 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime called the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, which states that:
	Trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.

Human Trafficking: Prostitution

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a copy of the research her Department used to inform its calculation that 80 per cent. of women working in prostitution have been trafficked into the UK.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office has neither made nor cited this calculation.

Human Trafficking: Sentencing

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will break down the sentences issued to those convicted of human trafficking offences under Operation Pentameter 2 by  (a) category and  (b) length of sentence.

Jacqui Smith: It is not possible to disaggregate the sentences received as a result of Operation Pentameter 2 from those which may result out of other operations. Additionally many of cases are still progressing through the criminal justice system.

Human Trafficking: Sex Establishments

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the estimated number of UK sex establishments Operation Pentameter 2 visited.

Jacqui Smith: It is not possible to accurately state what proportion of UK sex establishments were visited under Pentameter 2.
	Operation Pentameter 2 was an intelligence-led operation which involved a total of 822 premises being visited. Of these 157 were massage parlours/saunas, 582 were residential and 83 were other premises including airports, seaports and hotels.

Identity Cards: Nationality

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons identification cards for EEA citizens will not feature reference to the individual's nationality.

Jacqui Smith: For the majority of British citizens the identity card will also be valid as a travel document within the European Union.
	EU citizens who are legally resident in the UK will be issued with an identification card. It will not be valid for travel and the holder's nationality will not be included.

Identity Cards: Overseas Residence

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances identity cards will be issued to people resident outside the UK at their time of application.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 9 December 2008
	Section 2(2) of the Identity Cards Act 2006 establishes that people aged 16 and over who are resident in the United Kingdom and people of a prescribed description who have either resided here or are proposing to enter the United Kingdom are entitled to be registered on the National Identity Register and to be issued with an identity card.
	For the initial issue of identity cards to British citizens and EEA nationals from the second half of 2009, it is intended to allow airside workers who live abroad but still require a permanent airside pass to be eligible for enrolment in line with the rollout of identity cards agreed for relevant airports.

Islam: Marriage

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many mosques in Keighley constituency are registered to conduct civil marriage ceremonies;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of weddings which took place in unregistered mosques in Keighley constituency which were not subsequently followed up by a civil ceremony in the last 12 months; and how many such weddings took place which were followed by a civil ceremony.

Meg Hillier: The Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 provides for places of religious worship, except those of the Established Church, to be certified to the Registrar General. A building has to be certified as a place of religious worship before it can be registered for marriages by the Registrar General under the Marriage Act 1949.
	The Marriage Act draws a distinction between civil and religious marriages. Where a marriage is conducted in a registered building it may be solemnised according to such form and ceremony as the persons contracting the marriage see fit to adopt. Civil marriages may only take place in a register office or other building approved for that purpose by the local authority in which it is situated.
	The register of buildings registered for the solemnisation of marriage is not held in a format that can be readily broken down into individual parliamentary constituency. The closest geographical area for registration purposes which includes Keighley is the registration district of Bradford and Keighley. There are 13 buildings that are registered for the solemnisation of marriage by those professing the Muslim religion in this registration district.
	Information on the numbers of marriages in England and Wales is published in the annual reference volume Series FM2 Marriage, Divorce and Adoption Statistics, available from the House of Commons Library. However, figures for the number of marriages by building are not readily available. There are no records held of any ceremonies that are conducted by those professing the Muslim religion that are outside of the provisions in the Marriage Act 1949.

Police

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what mechanism evidence is gathered from police forces on the impact of migration on each force.

Jacqui Smith: The Migration Impacts Forum provides a means of proper, regular and organised dialogue with interested parties outside Government, focused on the wider impacts associated with migration experienced by local areas. Its role is to consider information from forum members, including the police, about the social implications of migration and any transitional impacts.

Police: Complaints

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Independent Police Complaints Commission has the power to investigate complaints about allegedly unlawful conduct by serving police officers.

Vernon Coaker: The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has statutory powers under the Police Reform Act 2002 to deal with complaints and allegations of misconduct against the police in England and Wales.

Police: East Midlands Airport

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to Leicestershire Police Authority of policing East Midlands Airport was in the last year for which figures were available.

Vernon Coaker: The costs of policing East Midlands airport are a matter for the chief constable of Leicestershire constabulary and the local police authority.
	The figures are not held centrally.

Police: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much was spent by Essex police force defending actions brought against them by victims of crime in each year since 2001;
	(2)  how much was spent by Essex police force defending itself against vexatious litigation in each year since 2001;
	(3)  which  (a) barristers' chambers and  (b) solicitors' firms have undertaken work for Essex police force in each of the last two financial years; and what the reason for the work and the fees paid were in each case;
	(4)  which 10 barristers instructed by Essex Police received the highest sums for this work in the last two financial years; how much each received; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not held centrally. Decisions on the distribution of resources are a matter for the chief constable of Essex and Essex police authority.

Police: Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent assessment is of the level of readiness of police forces to respond to incidents of flooding.

Vernon Coaker: Under the auspices of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, the Local Resilience Forum structure has, since its implementation in 2005, been the primary means through which police forces and other category 1 organisations collaborate to develop emergency plans which would include flood preparedness. Although police forces are engaged in the preparation of their own flood response arrangements, the majority of preparedness is achieved collectively through multi-agency planning.
	All Local Resilience Forums have carried out assessments of the risks of emergencies in their areas, and I understand that most recognise flooding as a high risk. Most Local Resilience Forums have a collectively agreed multi-agency flood response plan; and nearly all of the main category 1 responders within them, including police forces, either contribute to these plans or take account of flooding incidents in their own emergency response plans. Most of the plans that exist had already been reviewed in the period following the summer 2007 flooding; and multi-agency plans are being further reviewed following the issue of new guidance from Government in February this year.
	In his independent review of the 2007 floods, Sir Michael Pitt said
	during the emergency itself, there were excellent examples of emergency services and other organisations working well together; saving lives and protecting property. However, this was not always the case; some decision making was hampered by insufficient preparation and a lack of information.
	The Government will be responding to Sir Michael Pitt's recommendations by the end of this year.

Police: Recruitment

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost of recruiting a police officer was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not held centrally.

Police: Resignations

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police recruits left the police force within two years of joining since 1997, broken down by police force area; and what percentage of leavers that figure represented in each year.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The numbers of officers voluntarily resigning or dismissed from each force with less than two years service are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of p olice officers (FTE)( 1,2 ) dismissed or resigned within the first two years of service 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Avon and Somerset 39 32 30 15 8 18 
			 Bedfordshire 17 21 30 16 11 15 
			 Cambridgeshire 16 10 12 10 12 5 
			 Cheshire 6 10 16 7 16 6 
			 Cleveland 2 9 13 7 15 12 
			 Cumbria 5 3 8 5 7 7 
			 Derbyshire 7 13 5 4 9 17 
			 Devon and Cornwall 20 10 18 23 20 7 
			 Dorset 13 14 13 15 13 8 
			 Durham 6 8 13 12 8 1 
			 Dyfed-Powys 5 5 10 4 3 4 
			 Essex 19 15 34 38 41 27 
			 Gloucestershire 13 9 11 4 3 3 
			 Greater Manchester 54 64 54 42 20 22 
			 Gwent 2 3 4 10 8 5 
			 Hampshire 26 45 34 32 22 16 
			 Hertfordshire 30 40 37 29 28 24 
			 Humberside 17 18 11 17 15 23 
			 Kent 38 44 27 20 14 12 
			 Lancashire n/a 18 20 12 14 7 
			 Leicestershire 8 16 n/a 19 6 10 
			 Lincolnshire 10 7 11 11 3 4 
			 London, City of 11 5 6 3 2 2 
			 Merseyside 9 14 19 18 33 13 
			 Metropolitan Police 392 383 207 95 76 44 
			 Norfolk 12 6 7 11 12 5 
			 Northamptonshire 8 6 5 10 10 14 
			 Northumbria 20 20 19 13 13 8 
			 North Wales 8 7 10 5 5 5 
			 North Yorkshire 8 7 13 2 12 14 
			 Nottinghamshire 8 8 11 3 6 4 
			 South Wales 24 7 11 13 9 11 
			 South Yorkshire 22 20 29 20 20 13 
			 Staffordshire 12 12 28 12 12 7 
			 Suffolk 11 19 13 10 3 5 
			 Surrey 24 29 19 17 22 22 
			 Sussex 44 86 81 48 37 25 
			 Thames Valley 40 32 61 40 28 22 
			 Warwickshire 12 7 3 5 6 13 
			 West Mercia 11 21 9 9 8 13 
			 West Midlands 84 7 68 54 44 45 
			 West Yorkshire 29 31 37 61 33 30 
			 Wiltshire 10 11 11 12 3 6 
			 n/a = data not available (1) Full-time equivalent figures rounded to the nearest whole number. Provisional data that have not been verified by individual forces, based on published data taken from annual Police Service Strength bulletins. (2) Data collected from 2002-03 onwards. 
		
	
	
		
			  Police officers (FTE)( 1,2 ) dismissed or resigned within the first two years of service as a percentage of all police officers dismissed or resigned 
			  Percentage 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Avon and Somerset 62 55 56 29 21 35 
			 Bedfordshire 53 54 77 62 37 44 
			 Cambridgeshire 52 42 32 38 40 28 
			 Cheshire 46 42 76 16 48 30 
			 Cleveland 29 38 42 24 60 46 
			 Cumbria 42 23 53 38 37 37 
			 Derbyshire 29 48 25 17 20 36 
			 Devon and Cornwall 54 37 47 56 48 17 
			 Dorset 62 70 57 60 54 30 
			 Durham 50 47 65 67 50 5 
			 Dyfed-Powys 38 71 45 29 43 29 
			 Essex 41 36 54 58 22 38 
			 Gloucestershire 59 47 69 19 13 16 
			 Greater Manchester 47 47 40 20 12 15 
			 Gwent 17 21 21 43 47 17 
			 Hampshire 53 60 54 50 39 29 
			 Hertfordshire 58 67 64 48 42 43 
			 Humberside 49 58 32 49 43 53 
			 Kent 70 68 44 29 26 19 
			 Lancashire  41 51 41 35 16 
			 Leicestershire 30 44  41 20 16 
			 Lincolnshire 67 41 65 55 17 25 
			 London, City of 55 42 43 30 17 11 
			 Merseyside 28 33 39 19 46 24 
			 Metropolitan Police 62 65 44 25 18 11 
			 Norfolk 67 46 47 44 52 29 
			 Northamptonshire 67 21 17 40 45 50 
			 Northumbria 50 33 45 35 24 15 
			 North Wales 42 16 56 22 22 29 
			 North Yorkshire 62 33 50 11 38 40 
			 Nottinghamshire 17 50 39 20 21 17 
			 South Wales 62 28 52 41 21 13 
			 South Yorkshire 46 42 54 45 47 28 
			 Staffordshire 36 36 60 60 39 21 
			 Suffolk 55 63 45 56 20 22 
			 Surrey 67 66 56 40 38 39 
			 Sussex 56 65 69 53 45 31 
			 Thames Valley 47 43 60 28 30 26 
			 Warwickshire 63 33 17 36 35 59 
			 West Mercia 50 54 38 28 20 35 
			 West Midlands 60 4 49 37 32 37 
			 West Yorkshire 51 41 49 62 47 31 
			 Wiltshire 27 58 33 38 14 19 
			 n/a = data not available (1) Full-time equivalent figures rounded to the nearest whole number. Provisional data that have not been verified by individual forces, based on published data taken from annual Police Service Strength bulletins. (2) Data collected from 2002-03 onwards.

Police: Training

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the average cost of  (a) employing,  (b) training and  (c) developing a probationary police constable in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average cost of employing a police officer in each police authority area was in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what the equivalent figure was in each of the last five years; and what the figures are expected to be in each of the next five years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to collect information on the  (a) number of and  (b) circumstances in which speed cameras are damaged; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: Deliberately causing damage to a speed camera is not a specific offence, but an example of criminal damage. It would be impractical to require the collection and submission to central Government of detailed information on every type of criminal damage and every instance of its occurrence.
	Speed cameras are a road safety tool of proven effectiveness. Those who damage them are wilfully putting people's lives at increased risk. Individual chief officers of police will collect information as they consider appropriate and necessary to deal effectively with any problems that occur in their areas.

Thames Valley Police

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each basic command unit in the Thames Valley police force area cost in each of the last 10 years; and what the performance indicators for each basic command unit are.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not held centrally. Details of the performance indicators used by individual basic command units are matters for Thames Valley police.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Textiles: Manpower

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people are employed in the  (a) weaving,  (b) spinning,  (c) dyeing,  (d) finishing and making-up and  (e) silk industry sectors of the clothing and textiles industry.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated December 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many people were employed in the (a) weaving, (b) spinning, (c) dyeing, (d) finishing and making-up and (e) silk industry sectors of the clothing and textiles industry. (242414)
	Table 1 attached, shows the number of employee jobs in the weaving, spinning, finishing and making-up, and silk industries in Great Britain in 2006.
	Estimates of employment are usually provided using the Labour Force Survey. However because of the interest in industrial sector, your question has been answered using the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI), which provides estimates at the 4-digit Standard Industrial Classification 2003 (SIC03) level.
	The ABI is a business survey which provides estimates of employment according to the number of jobs. The estimates exclude people who are self-employed workers in the industry sectors requested. Please note that dyeing employment estimates cannot be provided separately using 4-digit SIC03, and estimates for the silk industry are also included under weaving and spinning.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the Annual Business Inquiry are subject to margins of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of employee jobs in selected clothing and textile industries( 1) , 200 6  Great Britain 
			   Thousand 
			 Weaving(2) 7 
			 Spinning(3) 5 
			 Finishing and Making-up(4) 86 
			 Silk(5) 3 
			 (1) Using four-digit Standard Industrial Classification 2003 (SIC03) (2) The four digit SIC03 codes used are 1721-1725 (which includes weaving of silk) (3 )The four digit SIC03 codes used are 1711-1717 (which includes spinning of silk) (4 )The four digit SIC03 codes used are 1740-1830 (5) The four digit SIC03 codes used are 1715 and 1724  Source: Annual Business Inquiry

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

West Bank

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's priorities are for assisting Palestinians in the West Bank.

Michael Foster: In the west bank, as in Gaza, my Department aims to help create the conditions for sustainable peace and to improve the lives of Palestinians. Our priorities are to help the Palestinian Authority to deliver essential services, support efforts to reduce restrictions on movement and access, work with the US and others to improve security, support development of the Palestinian private sector, and provide Palestinian refugees the assistance they need.

Zimbabwe

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian assistance the Government is providing to the people of Zimbabwe.

Douglas Alexander: The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe continues to get worse. Thousands have been hit by cholera and hundreds have died. Basic services have collapsed. The health services can only respond because of the help we and others are giving. Five million people need food aid, and more disease outbreaks could be on the way.
	Mugabe has led his country to this humanitarian catastrophe and now denies it exists. We are doing everything we can to save lives, but fundamental change is now required to give power back to the Zimbabwean people and bring this crisis to an end.

Zimbabwe

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contingency plans he has to provide emergency relief for Zimbabwe.

Douglas Alexander: Zimbabwe is facing a growing humanitarian crisis now compounded by a cholera epidemic. The Department for International Development will spend 47 million this year in humanitarian assistance to save the lives and livelihoods of the poorest, most vulnerable Zimbabweans. This assistance will provide immediate assistance for the cholera response, seeds and fertiliser, food aid, medicines, HIV/AIDS treatment and maternal and newborn services. UK support goes to UN agencies and non-governmental organisations.

Tuberculosis

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking globally to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.

Gareth Thomas: DFID aims to prevent the spread of TB through our support to international organisations and partnerships, direct support to countries, and research. DFID supports the World Health Organisation, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and UNITAID, the drug purchase facility. DFID works on TB programmes in a number of countries, in addition to strengthening health systems which combats all diseases including TB. We also fund research including development of new drugs.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to deal with the humanitarian situation in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo.

Douglas Alexander: I recently made available an additional 5 million for the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), bringing the total UK spend for humanitarian needs in DRC in 2008 to 42 million.
	DFID is one of the largest humanitarian donors in the DRC and has been at the forefront of the humanitarian effort to date. The bulk of UK funds (30 million) are provided to the UN-managed Pooled Fund, with the remainder going to NGOs and the Red Cross. UK funds are providing much needed shelter, health, water and sanitation, food and nutrition to over four million Congolese throughout DRC.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Douglas Alexander: The humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is dire. Currently, the main needs assessed by my Department are security, health, food, water, sanitation and shelter for the over 1 million displaced and the communities affected by the conflict.
	The humanitarian community has responded well to the crisis and there are no significant humanitarian gaps at present. The UK is one of the largest humanitarian donors to the DRC with 42 million in 2008 and UK funds have been in action since day one of the crisis. UK funds are helping to reach over 4 million Congolese each year across DRC.

Zimbabwe: Cholera

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Government plans to provide to deal with the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate. The cholera epidemic is the biggest in Zimbabwe's history and has led to thousands of cases so far and hundreds of deaths. The UN is predicting that as many as 60,000 could be affected in the coming weeks. DFID is funding a 10 million package to help fight the cholera outbreak and support life-saving health services.

Palestine

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Government aid to Palestinians.

Douglas Alexander: All UK development aid is carefully monitored for effectiveness. The World Bank confirms that our support to the Palestinian Authority has helped it deliver essential services to the Palestinian people. Our funding to the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency supports health, education and other services for over 4 million Palestinian refugees, including in Gaza, where aid agencies operate within severe Israeli controls. Palestinians and the Israeli authorities are increasingly confident in the Palestinian security forces, which we are helping to reform. Our support to private sector development has helped to secure $725 million worth of investment deals for Palestinian businesses.

Palestine

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Government aid to Palestinians; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: All UK development aid is carefully monitored for effectiveness. The World Bank confirms that our support to the Palestinian Authority has helped it deliver essential services to the Palestinian people. Our funding to the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency supports health, education and other services for over 4 million Palestinian refugees, including in Gaza, where aid agencies operate within severe Israeli controls. Palestinians and the Israeli authorities are increasingly confident in the Palestinian security forces, which we are helping to reform. Our support to private sector development has helped to secure $725 million worth of investment deals for Palestinian businesses.

Afghanistan: International Assistance

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator on a new humanitarian action plan for Afghanistan.

Douglas Alexander: On October 2, 2008, I wrote to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator regarding a new Humanitarian Action Plan for Afghanistan. I was encouraged by the recent visit of UN OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) officials to assist with the development and strengthening of the Humanitarian Action Plan.
	OCHA will be sharing their findings with the Department for International Development (DFID)in the New Year.

Chagos Islands: Overseas Aid

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if his Department will consider providing increased assistance to the former Chagos Islanders.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development has no programme for assistance to Chagossians. There is no permanent resident population in the British Indian Ocean Territory. Following the House of Lords judgment on 22 October, the Government's policy will remain that no one has the right of abode in the Territory or the right to enter unless authorised. While in no way justifying the regrettable decisions that were made in the 1960s and the 1970s, earlier court rulings found that the compensation already paid in full and final settlement of claims was fair.

Departmental Data Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many civil servants in his Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since 1997.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not retain records of the number of civil servants investigated for losing or deliberately disclosing data or confidential information who were neither dismissed nor suspended. No DFID civil servants have been dismissed or suspended for being responsible for losing or deliberately disclosing data or confidential information in this period.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on ministerial hospitality in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2006-07 and  (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices.

Douglas Alexander: It is not possible to provide the requested information without incurring disproportionate cost.
	All spending on official entertainment is made in accordance with the principles set out in Managing Public Money. This document is available on HM Treasury's web-site:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/psr_mpm_index.htm

Languages

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what external language training providers his Department has used in the last 12 months.

Michael Foster: Requirements for language training are assessed by each office based upon business priorities and securing value for money in the local market. The Department for International Development (DFID) consists of approximately 100 sub-departments and overseas offices with devolved authority for financing and arranging such training. It is not possible, without incurring disproportionate cost, to provide details of all the language providers used in the last 12 months. However, from the data we do hold centrally, we can report that for 2007-08 the two major providers used to provide language training are Communicaid Global Communications and Linguerama.

Languages

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's staff are undergoing of language training, broken down by the language in which training is being provided.

Michael Foster: Reporting how many Department for International Development (DFID) staff are in receipt of language training, broken down by the language in which training is being provided cannot be achieved without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Requirements for language training are assessed by each office based upon business priorities and securing value for money in the local market.
	DFID consists of approximately 100 sub-departments and overseas offices with devolved authority for financing and arranging training. There are limited centrally held records.

North Korea: Overseas Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures he has put in place for the provision of humanitarian aid to the population of North Korea; what discussions he has had with the North Korean government on the implementation of that strategy; and what representations he has made to the United Nations on this matter.

Michael Foster: We have not put any measures in place to provide humanitarian aid to North Korea. We continue to monitor the situation and are aware of the joint FAO and World Food programme report issued on 8 December.

Pitcairn Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has plans to improve  (a) transport links between the United Kingdom and the Pitcairn Islands and  (b) facilities for (i) tourism and (ii) healthcare on the Islands; and whether his Department plans to promote investment by businesses on the Islands.

Michael Foster: Plans are well advanced to introduce a new passenger and freight shipping service for Pitcairn in 2009. This would make access to the island more frequent and predictable. Tourism development is important for Pitcairn's future prosperity. We are considering plans to improve landing facilities, particularly for cruise ship passengers, and will work with the community to help develop more professional tourist services and standards.
	We fund through the Pitcairn Government a small loan scheme which some Pitcairners have used to start up tourist and other small businesses. External business interest is more limited but we have encouraged fishing, tourist and trading opportunities where they exist. The DFID funded Adamstown Healthcentre, and expatriate doctor, offer good health services to the community.

Somalia: Asylum

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to provide targeted assistance in support of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' work with Somali refugees in Kenya; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: In November 2006 the UK, through the Department for International Development (DFID) made a grant of US$ 2.29 million to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for their work with Somali refugees in Kenya. We have no plans at present to provide further direct assistance.
	However, DFID is providing core funding of 19 million to UNHCR for its global operations in 2008. In addition, during 2008 UNHCR has received $3.75 million from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to which the UK is the largest contributor.
	The 2009 UN Consolidated Humanitarian Appeal for Kenya includes a request for $54 million (36 million) for UNHCR. DFID is exploring whether to make a contribution to this appeal. It is a matter for the UN as to whether Somali refugees in Kenya will be a priority for this funding.

St Helena

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the issues of concern regarding access to St Helena on which his Department is in discussions with the Treasury are; when negotiations are expected to resume; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: We announced on 8 December 2008,  Official Report, column 40WS, that there will be a pause in negotiations over the St. Helena Airport contract. We anticipate that this pause will continue into the new year. This is to allow ongoing discussions, including on value for money of St. Helena access options; particularly in light of the changed economic climate.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has given to the Nuba region of Sudan in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 October 2008 to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew),  Official Report, column 1419W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will represent the United Kingdom at the meeting called by the French Foreign Minister in Paris on 14 December 2008 to discuss Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 15 December 2008
	My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, represented the UK at an informal ministerial meeting on Afghanistan and the region, hosted by the French Foreign Minister in Paris on 14 December 2008.

Burma: United Nations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to Burma has had with the UN Secretary General on his forthcoming trip to Burma; and when his visit is scheduled.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary regularly discuss the situation in Burma with the UN Secretary General. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the issue with Ban Ki Moon as recently as 9 December.
	The UN Secretary-General announced earlier this month that he would not now be travelling to Burma later this month, because he did not believe the conditions were right. He expressed his frustration at the lack of progress made; called on the regime to respond to the concerns of the international community; and urged all countries with influence to encourage the regime to co-operate with the UN. We share his concerns and echo his call for the international community, and particularly Burma's neighbours, to do more to support his efforts. Should the Secretary-General choose to visit next year he will, of course, have our full support. We continue to believe that the UN Good Offices Mission, and Ban Ki Moon's personal engagement, can have a positive impact on Burma's transition to democracy.

Forced Marriage

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time permanent members of staff work for his Department's Forced Marriage Unit.

Gillian Merron: Seven full-time staff work in the joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office Forced Marriage Unit.

Forced Marriage

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the operational budget of the Forced Marriage Unit is for 2008-09.

Gillian Merron: In addition to staffing costs, the Forced Marriage Unit has a budget of 273,000 for 2008-09. This budget is used to support work with non-governmental organisations in the UK and overseas, to fund outreach activities, to produce awareness raising materials, and other publications, such as the recent statutory guidance for agencies dealing with forced marriage.

Forced Marriage

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases of suspected forced marriage were reported to the Forced Marriage Unit in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2007.

Gillian Merron: In the first three quarters of 2008 the Forced Marriage Unit provided advice or support in a total of 1,308 incidences of suspected forced marriage. This included advice to individuals, non-governmental organisations and other agencies on specific cases. Of these 388 required direct support from the Unit, 192 needing consular assistance, and 196 requiring support as reluctant visa sponsors. Prior to 2007 figures were only recorded for cases where assistance was provided. In 2007 the Unit handled 168 cases requiring consular assistance, and 94 reluctant sponsor cases.

Forced Marriage

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training is provided to embassy staff who negotiate with suspected victims of forced marriage and their families.

Gillian Merron: All consular staff overseas receive training which includes handling of forced marriage cases. Consular staff being deployed to countries where we commonly see forced marriage cases receive additional briefing and information from the Forced Marriage Unit.

Forced Marriage

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal guidance his Department provides for staff in agencies working outside the UK who deal with suspected cases of forced marriage.

Gillian Merron: Consular staff overseas can draw on legal guidance from honorary legal advisers in country and from the Foreign and Commonwealth legal advisers in London. Advice can be general or case specific.

Montserrat: Biodiversity

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had on the preservation of the diversity of wildlife in  (a) Montserrat and  (b) Bermuda.

Gillian Merron: Officials have regular discussions with relevant environmental departments and organisations in Montserrat and Bermuda on the preservation of the diversity of wildlife in both territories and on how the UK can help both territories with environmental conservation.
	In 2001, the Government signed environment charters with the overseas territories, including with Montserrat and Bermuda. The charters consist of a list of commitments for the Government and individual overseas territory governments to take forward to protect and safeguard the environment of each territory.
	The Government provides funding through the Overseas Territories Environment Programme, a joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development funded programme to assist territory governments with the implementation of the charters. Assistance is also available through the Darwin Initiative, a Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs fund, to support projects to assist territories to protect their biodiversity.
	In Montserrat this year, the Governor and his staff have had discussions with the Ministry of Environment about the work they are doing on the preservation of wildlife, flora and fauna. The Governor's Office also liaises closely with UK environmental organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) about the work they are doing with the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture on environmental conservation in Montserrat, and to offer assistance in moving their work forward.
	During 2008, the Governor in Bermuda has worked with the Bermuda National Trust and the Bermuda Audobon Society, a local charity for the protection of birdlife and habitats, to promote awareness of, and to help protect, Bermuda's diversity of wildlife. The Governor's Office has also hosted fundraising events to fund the purchase of a new reserve for the conservation of Bermuda's biodiversity.

Nigeria: Violence

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the security situation in the Nigerian city of Jos following the clashes between Muslims and Christians between 29 and 30 November 2008; and what discussions he has had with the Government of Nigeria on this matter.

Gillian Merron: Following the rioting on 28-30 November 2008, the situation in Jos, Plateau State, remains tense. The Government of Nigeria has taken various measures, including a temporary curfew, to avoid further violence. The Nigerian Inter-Religious Council has held a meeting in Jos under the chairmanship of the Sultan of Sokoto and Catholic Archbishop John Onaiyekan to help prevent future outbreaks. The Government has had discussions with the Nigerian authorities, both at local and at ministerial level, and will continue to monitor the situation carefully. We will continue to review and update our travel advice to reflect the situation on the ground.

Oil: Research

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1056-7W, on oil: armed conflict, how much his Department's strategic programme has budgeted for support for the project by the University of Plymouth.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has allocated 314,000 as strategic programme funding for the University of Plymouth crude oil finger-printing project. This breaks down to 85,000 for financial year 2006-07, 100,000 for financial year 2007-08, 114,000 for financial year 2008-09 and 15,000 for financial year 2009-10.

Oil: Research

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1056-7W, on oil: armed conflict, which international oil companies have contributed technical expertise to the University of Plymouth project.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is not aware that the international oil companies have directly contributed technical expertise to the University of Plymouth research as yet. The international oil companies have been invited to contribute to this project and the FCO is lobbying for them to do so.

Russia: Diplomatic Service

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) UK diplomatic staff there were in Russia and  (b) Russian diplomatic staff there were in the UK (i) immediately prior to the expulsion of diplomats in 2007 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: Immediately prior to the expulsion of diplomats in July 2007, the UK had 78 diplomatic staff in Russia, including temporary staff, while Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) records showed that 77 Russians were notified to the FCO as being posted to the UK with diplomatic rank. At present, the UK has 78 diplomatic staff posted to Russia, while current FCO records show that 72 Russian diplomatic staff are registered in the UK. These figures are subject to routine fluctuation depending on arrivals and departures in posts.

Russia: Foreign Relations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment of  (a) UK-Russian relations and  (b) EU-Russian relations the Government has carried out since the war in Georgia; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Russia is important to achieving UK and EU objectives in many areas, including regional security, energy and climate change. The UK has serious concerns over Russian policy and actions in Georgia, and is supporting multilateral efforts, including through the EU, to broker solutions.
	Differences remain unresolved in bilateral relations, including over the Litvinenko case and the British Council's work in Russia, on which we continue to pursue satisfactory outcomes. The Government engage with Russia in pursuit of UK interests, including through high level dialogue. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Medvedev in the margins of the G20 summit in Washington to discuss the international financial crisis. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met with Foreign Minister Lavrov most recently on 4 December in the margins of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Ministerial in Helsinki.
	Although the strong trade and investment relationship between Russian and the UK has been hit by the financial crisis, both the Lord Mayor of London and my noble Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Lord Mandelson have led business delegations to Russian this autumn to promote the interests of British businesses and encourage co-operation between governments on trade and investment. The Government have supported both the From Russia exhibition in London and the Turner exhibition in Moscow.
	Our engagement with Russia allows us to express serious concerns about Russian policies as well as to work together with Russia where it is clearly in our interest to do so. The UK believes it is right to pursue a comprehensive and binding successor to the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement which will help the UK and EU partners to build a more stable, long-term relationship with Russia based on the rule of law. However, in order to achieve this, Russia must meet its commitments under the 12 August and 8 September ceasefire agreements in full and work constructively in the Geneva peace talks. The extent to which Russia meets these commitments will determine the pace of development of the EU-Russia relationship, which the EU will keep under close review in light of the EU-Russia Audit.

Somalia: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the African Union force for Somalia to be fully deployed; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The original mandate for the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISON) envisaged 8,000 troops. Currently around 3,500 are deployed within Somalia.

St Helena

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many inhabitants of St Helena have taken up residence in the United Kingdom in the last five years.  [Official Report, 3 February 2009, Vol. 487, c. 7MC.]

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any meetings with officials from St. Helena in the last two years. However, I had a constructive meeting with Councillor William Drabble during the Overseas Territories Consultative Council in October this year, and my hon. Friend, Meg Munn, then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, met with Councillor Brian Isaacs at the same event in December 2007. Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other Government officials are in regular contact with St. Helena officials.

St Helena

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit  (a) St Helena,  (b) Tristan da Cunha and  (c) Ascension Islands in the next 12 months.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha or Ascension Island in the next 12 months.
	My hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Meg Munn) visited Ascension Island in January this year when she met with representatives of the employing organisations and private sector and former councillors.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan consequent upon the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court on 20 November 2008 for the three rebel leaders alleged to be responsible for attacks on international peacekeepers in Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: On 20 November 2008, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor submitted an application for arrest warrants for three Darfur rebels alleged to have been involved in attacks on African Union soldiers. These applications are now being considered by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC. The ICC is independent and it would be premature to speculate on outcome of its internal deliberations.
	We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to co-operate with the International Criminal Court. There can be no impunity for crimes committed in Darfur.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Government of Sudan to provide clearance for UN-AM Mission in Darfur airlift operations following its agreement on 26 September 2008; and what discussions the Special Envoy to Sudan has had with the government of Sudan on this matter.

Gillian Merron: As part of a tripartite agreement reached on 7 October with the UN and the African Union, the Government of Sudan undertook to provide clearance for airlift operations for the UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). This clearance has subsequently been granted. We expect airlift of cargo into Darfur to begin shortly.
	We have underlined the importance of implementation of the tripartite agreement with the Government of Sudan, including through the UK Special Representative for Sudan, as well as in the UN Security Council, and will continue to monitor progress.

Syria: Terrorism

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to make representations to the Syrian government in respect of honours they have bestowed on convicted Islamist terrorist Sumar Kuntar; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
	 Substantive answer from Bill Rammell to Stewart Jackson:
	We are concerned that Syria has chosen to award its Order of Merit to someone guilty of such acts. We have no plans to make representations directly, but during my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's recent visit to Syria, he discussed with President Asad the strategic choice that Syria faces in acting as a force for stability or instability in the region.

UN World Conference against Racism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on UK participation at the Durban Review Conference; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 26 November,  Official Report, column 1794W, in which I expressed concern at the direction taken by preparations for the Durban Review Conference.
	A further round of negotiations will take place in January 2009, after which the Government will assess their position.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the number of members and supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe who have disappeared since September 2008; and what reports his Department has received on the likely whereabouts of those who have disappeared.

Gillian Merron: We have received reports that approximately 18 supporters of the MDC, including a two-year-old child, have been abducted in recent weeks and are still missing. In addition, Jestina Mukoko of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) and two ZPP colleagues were abducted on 3 and 8 December and have not been found. The Government have failed to produce these missing people, despite Court Orders, and despite the efforts of their colleagues, lawyers, non-governmental organisations and the international community to locate them and secure their safe release or fair trial. We are seriously concerned for the safety of all those who have disappeared and condemn their extra-judicial abduction and detention. We continue to call, bilaterally, as well as in the UN Human Rights and Security Councils and with EU member states, for an end to all such human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Reorganisation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Library a copy of the documents establishing the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Mike O'Brien: The Cabinet Office paper explaining the machinery of government changes in which the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was created, entitled Machinery of Government: economy, business, climate change, energy and environment, was placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 13 October.

Energy: Imports

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average cost per tonne equivalent was of electricity imported via the interconnector with France in 2007.

Mike O'Brien: DECC does not hold information on the value of interconnector flows with France. The amount and value of interconnector flows to the GB market are determined by the commercial decisions made by market participants and grid operator to equilibrate the underlying demand and supply in the electricity market. The value of such supplies are therefore commercially confidential.

Energy: Imports

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average cost per tonne equivalent of imported  (a) oil,  (b) gas,  (c) liquid gas and  (d) shale oil and tar sands was in 2007.

Mike O'Brien: The average cost of imported oil and gas in 2007 was as follows:
	Crude Oil: 271 /tonne
	Natural Gas: 130,000 /tonne (converted using an average density of 0.756 kg/cubic metre).
	DECC does not hold any data on the cost of imported liquid gas (LNG), shale oil or tar sands.

Energy: Meters

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to prioritise help for pre-payment customers for the installation of smart meters; and what discussions he has had with energy providers on this matter.

Mike O'Brien: The Government have confirmed that they will mandate the provision of smart meters to all domestic customers, and have given an indicative timetable for a roll-out. They will announce their decisions on how and when smart meters will be rolled out in the new year, and the approach to prepayment meters will be one of the matters we will consider in taking those decisions.

Energy: Per Capita Costs

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1465W, on electricity: per capita costs, what method for calculating the annual cost of the Renewables Obligation per customer was used.

Mike O'Brien: Ofgem base the calculation on an assumption about the amount of electricity used per annum by a household multiplied by the buyout price for the renewables obligation for that year multiplied by the percentage obligation for that year. This calculation gives the upper limit to the cost of the renewables obligation for that year.

Geological Disposal Implementation Board

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  on what date the Geological Disposal Implementation Board was set up;
	(2)  what the budget for the Geological Disposal Implementation Board is in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) each of the next five financial years.

Mike O'Brien: The Geological Disposal Implementation Board (GDIB) is a civil servant programme board set up in October 2008 to manage the Government and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) arrangements for planning and delivery of a geological disposal facility as set out in the White Paper 'Managing Radioactive Waste Safety: a Framework for Implementing Geological Disposal'. The board is a means by which civil servants from the relevant Government Departments can discuss the programme and prepare and present advice to Ministers. As such, the board does not have its own budget.
	Organisations represented on GDIB are the Department of Energy and Climate Change, HM Treasury, the Welsh Assembly Government and the NDA as the Government's delivery body.
	Other Government Departments, regulatory bodies and other organisations can be invited to contribute to supporting work.

Harworth Colliery

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the feasibility of re-opening Harworth Colliery.

Mike O'Brien: This is a matter for UK Coal plc, the mine operator.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the Minister of State plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 21 October 2008 on smaller scale renewable schemes in the Energy Bill.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 11 December 2008
	 There is no record of the hon. Member's letter being received by this Department, officials have requested a copy of the letter and I will reply in due course.

Natural Gas: Rural Areas

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of barriers to gas provision in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The cost to the customer is clearly the principal barrier to providing new connections to communities and households beyond the mains gas network, including rural areas. Because of the benefits that access to gas offers deprived and other households, the Government developed a model to provide connections to deprived communities by packaging a range of existing funding sources and using independent gas transporters. The successful application of that model was instrumental in persuading the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) to incentivise the large gas networks, such as Wales and the West, to connect deprived communities under the 2008-13 Gas Distribution Price Control.

Nuclear Power Stations: Decommissioning

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the resource budget costs of nuclear decommissioning provisions by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The funding requirements of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) were considered within the context of the 2007 comprehensive spending review. The settlement provides the NDA with 5.1 billion Government funding over the three years (ie 1.8 billion in 2008-09, 1.6 billion in 2009-10 and 1.7 billion in 2010-11) of which 1.4 billion is resource and 3.7 billion is capital. Together with the income that the NDA will earn from commercial activities in the period, it is estimated that the total funding available over the three years will be over 8 billion.

Renewable Energy: EC Action

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the  (a) cost and  (b) policy implications of meeting the likely UK share of the EU target of 20 per cent. of energy from renewables by 2020.

Mike O'Brien: Our assessment of the cost and policy implications of meeting the UK share of the EU 2020 renewable energy target was set out in our consultation document, which was published in June 2008, and can be accessed at
	www.berr.gov.uk/renewableconsultation.
	We are updating this analysis as part of the development of the Renewable Energy Strategy, which we will publish in spring 2009.

Renewable Energy: EC Action

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what modelling his Department has conducted on how the UK can meet its share of the EU target of 20 per cent. of energy from renewables by 2020; and if he will publish the results.

Mike O'Brien: The analysis undertaken to support the Renewable Energy Strategy consultation document was published with the consultation document in June 2008, and can be found at:
	www.berr.gov.uk/renewableconsultation.
	We are updating this analysis as part of the development of the Renewable Energy Strategy, which we will publish in spring 2009.

Renewables Obligation Order 2009

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what dates  (a) the draft Renewables Obligation Order 2009 and  (b) the Government's Response to the consultation on the Order were published.

Mike O'Brien: The draft Renewables Obligation Order 2009 and the Government's Response to the consultation on the order were published on 2 December 2008 and can be found at
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/sources/renewables/policy/renewables-obligation/key-stages/ro-consultation-2009/page46709.html

Wind Power

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the future of the Cirrus Array offshore wind farm following the withdrawal of Royal Dutch Shell from the consortium funding the development.

Mike O'Brien: Cirrus Energy (a consortium comprising Scottish Power, Eurus Energy, Shell Wind Energy and DONG) withdrew their application to this Department for Section 36 consent for the proposed 270MW offshore wind farm 'Cirrus Shell Flat Array' on 31 October 2008.
	This decision is a matter for the companies concerned, but reflects the particular circumstances of the project's location and does not reflect the attractiveness of the UK's offshore wind market as a whole nor the viability of other projects.
	The UK is currently leading the world in the delivery of offshore wind. This is because we are creating the right business environment for investment, stimulating investment in technology development and deployment, working to improve access to the grid and speeding up the planning process. With more than 90 UK and international companies registering their interest for new offshore wind development rights with the Crown Estate under the Round 3 competition, the expansion of offshore wind in UK waters remains very much on course.

Wind Power: Environmental Impact Assessment

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what environmental impact assessment regarding wildlife is required for wind turbines, with particular reference to bats.

Mike O'Brien: For projects over 50 MW, which are considered under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 or under the Transport and Works Act 1992, wind farm developers are required when seeking development consent to consider all environmental aspects of wind energy projects and produce an environmental impact assessment (EIA) which is available to the public. This includes the possible effects on flora and fauna, including bats. For projects of 50 MW or less, which are considered under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the local planning authority may request an ELA is completed.
	In addition, DECC have commissioned numerous research projects in order to assess possible environmental impacts from wind turbines. In particular, DECC are funding research into the development of techniques that may reduce the risk of bats interacting with wind turbines. The results of this research should be published next year.

PRIME MINISTER

Microgeneration

Gregory Barker: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what correspondence he has had with members of the public on the noise thresholds that should apply to air source heat pumps and micro-wind turbines under the permitted development system;
	(2)  with reference to his letter to a member of the public of 27 August 2008, on the inclusion of air source heat pumps and micro-wind turbines in the permitted development scheme, for what reasons the relevant delegated legislation has not been laid before Parliament.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	The Prime Minister has received two recent letters from members of the public on the noise thresholds under permitted development for householder air-source heat pumps and micro wind turbines. The Government are committed to permitting the installation of small wind turbines and air source heat pumps without the need for a planning application. However it is important we set the right criteria for noise levels for wind turbines and pumps on homes under permitted development and resolve the issue of possible interference with aviation communication systems. The Minister for Housing and Planning will make a statement to Parliament in the new year.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Government policies to encourage safe and sensible social drinking.

Dawn Primarolo: A cross-Government ministerial group monitors and manages the delivery and effectiveness of the Government's alcohol strategy. Information on progress against the actions in 'Safe. Sensible. Social. The next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy' (a copy of which has already been placed in the Library) as well as statistical data assessing reductions in alcohol harm or changes in public awareness are published on Government websites.
	Latest data show the following information on progress against the actions in 'Safe. Sensible. Social. The next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy' as well as statistical data on alcohol harms or changes in public awareness:
	alcohol related violent crime fell by a third between 1997 and 2007-08, from approximately 1.5 million incidents to fewer than 1 million;
	public perception of drunk and rowdy behaviour in public places in their area being a fairly big or very big problem has risen from 22 per cent. to 25 per cent. over the last five years;
	the proportion of 11 to 15-year-olds who have ever drunk alcohol is falling, from 61 per cent. in 2003 to 54 per cent. in 2007;
	average weekly alcohol consumption by those 11 to 15-year-olds who do drink has varied since 2000 with no clear pattern or trend, however average consumption in 2007 was lower than that in 2006;
	assessment of the most recent campaign to reduce underage sales of alcohol, Tackling Underage Sales of Alcohol, has shown a 20 per cent. fall in failure rates since the last campaign in 2006;
	the 2008 review of the Licensing Act found a 5 per cent. decrease in serious violent crime at night, 3 per cent. reduction in less serious wounding at night since implementation of the Act, although between October 2005 and September 2006 there was a small increase in offences reported between 3 am and 6 am; and
	alcohol-related hospital admissions are estimated to have risen by about 80,000 admissions a year over the five years 2002-03 to 2006-07.
	On 3 December 2008, we announced proposed legislation for powers to create and enforce a mandatory code for alcohol retailers and 4.5 million of investment in an enforcement campaign to tackle alcohol-related crime and antisocial behaviour.
	By introducing a mandatory code, we are acting to restrict irresponsible alcohol promotions, including those based on price. We will act in necessary and proportionate ways to help ensure that the environment in which alcohol is consumed does not encourage excessive consumption.
	Alongside this announcement, we published a summary of the responses to the recent public alcohol consultation and the Sheffield University School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) review of the effects of alcohol price and promotion. Both documents have been placed in the Library.
	The Department's new Alcohol Improvement Programme will bring together new and existing guidance, data, good practice and training materials for NHS primary care trusts (PCTs) and alcohol practitioners, along with direct support to those PCTs with the highest rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions.
	Consumers will increasingly have available the information they need to make informed decisions on their consumption.
	Industry will be expected to play its part in promoting safer and more sensible drinking.
	Advice and support for those who are at most risk will be made available through the effective commissioning and delivery of NHS preventive interventions and treatment.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) adults and  (b) children were admitted to accident and emergency departments in England as a result of drinking alcohol in each month of the last four years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Cancer

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the Government's strategy on cancer on the rates of those diagnosed with cancer in each year since 2001.

Ann Keen: Since 2001, the incidence of cancer has increased, this is explained by our aging population and people living longer.
	
		
			  Cancer incidence in England 
			   Number of new cancer cases  Male  Female 
			 2006 242,200 121,600 120,600 
			 2005 239,000 119,600 119,400 
			 2004 233,600 117,800 115,800 
			 2003 227,400 112,700 114,700 
			 2002 223,800 112,600 111,200 
			 2001 224,600 112,500 112,100 
		
	
	Cancer statistics are collected routinely and are used to aid both policy development and as proxy indicators for the affect of implemented policy.
	In general, the earlier a cancer can be diagnosed, the greater the chance of a cure. Both the NHS Cancer Plan (published 2000) and the Cancer Reform Strategy (published 2007) (a copy of which has already been placed in the Library) included programmes of work that attempt to achieve this. Since 2000, we now have:
	Faster diagnosis and treatment; waiting times for cancer care have reduced dramatically.
	More cancers detected through screening; including the introduction of the bowel- screening programme.
	Improved access to better treatments.
	A National Awareness and Early Detection Initiative (NAEDI)
	We have assessed the wider impact of these cancer strategies by looking at their affect on mortality rates over an extended period. Mortality rates in people under 75 have fallen by 17 per cent. between 1996 and 2005. This performance means that we are expecting to exceed our prostate specific antigen target of a minimum 20 per cent. reduction in cancer mortality by 2010 from 1995 to 1997 rate.

Cancer: Health Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that GPs are always informed about the treatment and follow-up care of cancer patients undertaken by hospitals.

Ann Keen: The General Medical Council has made it clear that it is the duty of every doctor to work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients' interests and, subject to patient consent, to keep colleagues well informed when sharing the care of patients. The Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS) published in December 2007 (a copy of which has already been placed in the Library) recommended that commissioners and service providers should ensure they have robust local systems in place to enable patients to experience good continuity of care. Through the NHS IT modernisation programme the Department is introducing an electronic care records service that will allow all clinicians involved in a patient's care to have access to the key information that they need.
	The National Cancer Survivorship Initiative will look at ways we can improve the ongoing support for people living with and beyond cancer, and test sites to pilot models of care will focus on all aspects of the care pathway, including assessment, care planning and immediate post treatment approaches to care.
	In addition, the National Chemotherapy Advisory Group's independent draft report Chemotherapy Services in England: Ensuring quality and safety reinforces the importance of continuity of care. It recommends summary records of chemotherapy treatment are copied to patients and their general practitioners on completion of the treatment and subsequent care plans drawn up and communicated to any relevant health care professionals involved in the management of the patients' care. This report is still subject to consultation until 4 February 2009, and the final report is expected to be published in the spring 2009.

Cancer: Nuclear Power Stations

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research on the potential for causal correlation between incidence of cancer and proximity to nuclear power stations.

Dawn Primarolo: The independent advisory Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE), which was established in 1985 in response to the final recommendation of the Black report (Black, 1984) has undertaken and published a number of studies on the incidence of cancer in populations in the neighbourhood of nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom. Details of all COMARE's publications are available on its website
	www.comare.org.uk.
	In 2005 COMARE published its tenth report, which reviewed earlier evidence and presented new data relating to childhood cancers around nuclear installations in Great Britain. By doing this, it investigated whether the claims of an excess of childhood cancer around some specific nuclear installations are a regular feature of the majority of the largest nuclear sites in Great Britain.
	The peer-reviewed report concluded that there was no evidence of excess numbers of cases in any local 25 km area around nuclear power stations, which would include either primary exposure to radioactive discharges or secondary exposure from re-suspended material. This report puts various allegations of other cancer clusters around nuclear installations into context.
	The 11th COMARE report shows that childhood leukaemia and many other types of childhood cancers do not occur evenly within the population of Great Britain. There are a variety of incidence rates in different geographical and social circumstances and these differ more that would be expected than from simple random or chance variations. This uneven distribution (or clustering) occurs at all levels of population distribution throughout the country, down to very local levels such as those of electoral wards. It is not known why childhood cancers tend to cluster like this. Much attention has been given to interactions between exposure to infections and immune responses. Other possible explanations have also been considered, including exposure to environmental agents. The analyses in this report have been carried out on the largest dataset of childhood cancer cases ever compiled anywhere in the world. The very large dataset gives considerable confidence in the results.
	To carry out the studies described in its report required a very large database and was compiled over a considerable time scale. The database was constructed from the National Registry of Childhood Tumours by staff of the Childhood Cancer Research Group in Oxford. The current dataset consists of 12,415 cases of childhood leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and 19,908 cases of children with solid tumours registered under the age of 15 in England, Wales and Scotland from 1969 to 1993 inclusive.

Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which psychiatric hospitals have provided separate units for the assessment of patients arrested by the police under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Phil Hope: We do not hold this information centrally.

Dental Services

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) dental surgeries and  (b) dental surgeries per head of population in England in (i) hamlets and isolated dwellings, (ii) villages, (iii) towns and fringe settlements and (iv) settlements of more than 10,000 inhabitants in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested.
	The number of NHS dental practices in England as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 is available in Table 7 of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006 report. This information is based on the old contractual arrangements which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006.
	This report, published on 23 August 2006, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity.
	To provide validated information on dental practices under the new contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the number of dental surgeries per population is not available. However, information is available on the number of persons per NHS dentist (as multiple dentists may work in the same practice).
	The number of persons per NHS dentist in England as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 is available in Annex F of the above publication. Information is available by strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trust (PCT).
	This measure, based on the old contractual arrangements, relates to the number of NHS dentists recorded on PCT lists as at 31 March each year.
	Information on population per NHS dentist and NHS dentists per 100,000 population, during the years ending 31 March, 2007 and 2008 is available in Table G1 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2007-08 report. This information is based on the new dental contractual arrangements. This report, published on 21 August 2008, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0708
	Following a recent consultation exercise, the count of dentists is based on a revised methodology and therefore supersedes previously published workforce figures relating to the new dental contractual arrangements. It is not comparable to the information collected under the old contractual arrangements. The revised methodology counts the number of dental performers with NHS activity recorded via FP17 claim forms in each year ending 31 March.
	Further work is planned over the next few months to determine whether the new definition used under the new dental contractual arrangements can be applied to the years under the old contractual arrangements to produce a consistent time series.

Dental Services: Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial allocation for dentistry is in financial year 2008-09 in each primary care trust area in Yorkshire and the Humber; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The primary dental service funding allocations for 2008-09 made to each primary care trust (PCT) in the area of the Yorkshire and the Humber strategic health authority are set out in the following table. These are net of income from dental charges paid by patients, which are retained locally to supplement the resources available for dentistry. Actual expenditure levels are determined by the pattern and type of services commissioned by each PCT. PCTs may also dedicate some of their other national health service resources to dentistry if they consider this an appropriate local priority.
	
		
			  2008-09 primary dental service net allocations to PCTs within the Yorkshire and the Humber SHA area 
			  PCT  Net allocation (000) 
			 Barnsley 9,688 
			 Bradford and Airedale 19,806 
			 Calderdale 8,713 
			 Doncaster 16,058 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 7,927 
			 Hull 14,382 
			 Kirklees 17,939 
			 Leeds 31,146 
			 North East Lincolnshire 6,265 
			 North Lincolnshire 5,097 
			 North Yorkshire and York 30,088 
			 Rotherham 8,787 
			 Sheffield 24,752 
			 Wakefield District 15,378 
			  Note: PCTs are awarded separate funding allocations to meet the cost of any dental vocational trainees who may be placed with dental practices in their area.

Departmental Advisory Bodies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the latest minutes for each of his Department's advisory bodies.

Ben Bradshaw: Advisory non-departmental public bodies (ANDPBs) are established to provide specialist professional advice to the Secretary of State and the Department of Health.
	Independent members are appointed on behalf of the Secretary of State by the Appointments Commission under the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments rules.
	As part of the Department's commitment to openness and accountability the minutes of the ANDPBs should always be publicly available unless there is a compelling need for confidentiality, such as commercially sensitive information.
	The following ANDPBs publish their minutes on their websites:
	Advisory Board on Registration of Homoeopathic Medicines
	http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Committees/Medicines advisorybodies/AdvisoryBoardontheRegistrationof HomoeopathicProducts/Minutes/index.htm
	Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/arhai/ARHAI-2008-05-20-minutes.pdf
	Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood Tissues and Organs
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/acsbto/minutes_of_Meetings.htm
	Advisory Group on Hepatitis
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/agh/Minutesmeeting_05_03_08.pdf
	British Pharmacopoeia Commission
	http://www.pharmacopoeia.gov.uk/the-british-pharmacopoeia-commission/meeting-minutes.php
	Commission on Human Medicines
	http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Committees/Medicinesadvisorybodies/CommissiononHumanMedicines/Minutes/index.htm
	Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
	http://www.iacoc.org.uk/meetings/index.htm
	Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
	http://www.iacom.org.uk/meetings/index.htm
	Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap/meetings.htm
	Committee on the Safety of Devices
	http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Committees/Devices/CommitteeontheSafetyofDevices/Minutes/index.htm
	Expert Advisory Group on AIDS
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/eaga/pdfs/EAGA81_public_minutes.pdf
	Gene Therapy Advisory Committee
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/genetics/gtac/meetings.htm
	Genetics and Insurance Committee
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/genetics/gaic/meetings.htm
	Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee
	http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Committees/Medicinesadvisorybodies/HerbalMedicinesAdvisoryCommittee/Minutes/index.htm
	Human Genetics Commission
	http://www.hgc.gov.uk
	Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/jcvi/minutes.htm
	National Clinical Audit Advisory Group
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/ncaag/meetings.htm
	National Commissioning Group
	http://www.ncg.nhs.uk/meetings.htm
	National Joint Registry Steering Committee
	http://www.njrcentre.org.uk/njrcentre/AbouttheNJR/Publicationsandreports/Steeringcommitteeminutes/tabid/88/Default.aspx
	Patient Information Advisory Group
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/piag/Meetings.htm
	Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
	http://www.sacn.gov.uk/meetings/committee/main_sacn_meetings/index.html
	The latest available version of their minutes of the following ANDPBs have been placed in the Library. The Department will seek to have such minutes published in future on the ANDPBs website:
	 Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV
	This advisory group publishes annual reports and newsletters on its website which give details of its activities:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/publichealth/healthimprovement/sexualhealth/sexualhealthgeneralinformation/dh_4079794
	 Independent Reconfiguration Panel
	This advisory group publishes reports to Secretary of State and an annual review of business. However, they have recently refreshed their website and minutes of meetings will be published on the site from 2009:
	http://www.irpanel.org.uk
	The following ANDPBs do not make their minutes available:
	 Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee
	The Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC) was set up to advise Ministers with respect to the grant, renewal, suspension, revocation and variation of certificates and generally in connection with the system of prior authorisation required by Article 5(a) of Council Directive 76/579/Euratom.
	Applicants for certificates supply information in confidence to the ARSAC in order that they can be assessed for their suitability to hold a certificate. Applicants are normally of consultant status and supply information on their training and experience as well as on the services (such as radiopharmacies and medical physics departments) that support them.
	The Committee comments on such applications in confidence. The information accumulated on individual applications is considered by a Department of Health official and if the application is successful the certificate is authorised on behalf of Secretary of State by that official.
	 Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances
	The minutes of ACBS are not published because the Committee deals primarily with applications from manufacturers to have their products listed and as such the Committee's discussions are held in-confidence.
	We would not release information under FOI as release of such information is exempt from the right of access under section 43 of the Act, which provides that information is exempt if its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).
	 Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards
	The Advisory Committee recommends the names of Consultants for Clinical Excellence Awards to Secretary of State for Health.
	The minutes of this advisory body contain person details relating to the persons under discussion and the minutes are therefore confidential.
	 Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens
	ACDP publishes public summaries, the latest of which is the summary of the June 2008 meeting, available here:
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/committees/acdp/100608/summary.pdf.
	The minutes are not currently publicly available, but this may change next year.
	 Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment
	COMARE minutes are not published. This is because they often contain confidential information relating to individuals or unpublished research material. This process has been cleared with the Freedom of Information Commissioner.
	 Independent Review Panel for the Classification of Borderline Products
	The full minutes of the meetings contain commercially sensitive information supplied by companies which cannot be released until the application is approved. The approval process may take several years if, for example, companies conduct further trials as a result of questions from the advisory bodies.
	 Persons Appointed Panel
	The panel performs the function of the person appointed in the Medicines Act 1968 and subsidiary legislation. The function is to consider appeals against decisions of a licensing authority and the minutes are therefore confidential.
	 Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration
	The Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB) along with the other Pay Review Bodies, does not disclose copies of minutes of meetings as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs and inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of the Review Bodies' deliberations.
	 The NHS Pay Review Body
	The NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB), along with the other Pay Review Bodies, does not disclose copies of minutes of meetings as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs and inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of the Review Bodies' deliberations.
	The following ANDPB has not held a meeting and there are therefore no minutes available.
	 Independent Review Panel for Advertising
	The ANDPB considers written representations from pharmaceutical companies as to the conformity of their advertising and promotional material with the regulations.
	No such representations have yet been made so the ANDPB has not yet held a meeting.

Departmental Data Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants in his Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: In the past two years no member of the Department's staff has been investigated, suspended or dismissed for losing or deliberately disclosing either data stored on departmental equipment or confidential information.
	Prior to April 2006 the human resources records of the Department were not held centrally and it would incur disproportionate cost to establish the information requested.
	Policy and procedures on security are constantly reviewed. Data held on the Department's laptops and portable media devices, including memory sticks are encrypted to minimise the risk of confidential data being compromised should the devices be lost or stolen.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many special advisers were employed in his Department at each pay band on 30 November 2008; and what his Department's total expenditure on special advisers was in 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 99-101WS.
	Information on the employment of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and is available in the Library.

Departmental Pay

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in his Department earned a salary over 100,000 in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table presents the data for the years as requested. Figures for 1997 to 2007 are taken from departmental annual reports. The 2008 figure is taken directly from the Department's payroll system.
	
		
			  In post date  (1 April each year)  Number of staff earning a salary over 100,000 on that date 
			 2008 50 
			 2007 50 
			 2006 64 
			 2005 71 
			 2004 56 
			 2003 52 
			 2002 39 
			 2001 30 
			 2000 23 
			 1999 16 
			 1998 12 
			 1997 8 
		
	
	These figures include secondees from the Department out to other organisations but not secondees from external organisations into the Department.

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants working in his Department and its agencies have pensions with a cash equivalent transfer value of over 1 million.

Ben Bradshaw: Pension information for board members is presented in the Remuneration Report in the Annual Resource Accounts. A copy of the Department's Resource Accounts for the financial year 2007-08 has already been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/DH_089421
	The Accounts for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has already been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.mhra.gov.uk/Publications/Corporate/AnnualReports/CON020817
	The Accounts for the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has already been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.pasa.nhs.uk/pasaweb/nhsprocurement/aboutnhspasa/publications/corporatepublications.htm

Departmental Procurement

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of invoices for goods and services procured from small and medium-sized businesses were paid within 10 days of receipt by  (a) his Department and  (b) the agencies for which his Department is responsible in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The commitment to pay invoices within 10 working days of receipt was made by the Prime Minister on 8 October 2008. Response to this initiative is being led by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), who advise that this applies only to central Government Departments at present and that no targets have yet been set. No data are available for prior years as there was no requirement at that time.
	The performance of Government Departments in paying invoices continues to be measured against the Public Sector Payment Policy, which set a target of payment within 30 days in line with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. The Act states that suppliers who are not paid within 30 days of the receipt of the invoice by the party billed are entitled to claim interest on the delayed payment. The Act makes no distinction between small and medium-sized businesses and other suppliers.
	The Department has configured its systems to enable its performance to be measured against both the 30-day and 10-day targets from November 2008 for all suppliers, regardless of size. The first formal data collection is being co-ordinated across Government by BERR based on November statistics. 98.02 per cent. of payments made by the Department in November were made within 10 working days of receipt of the invoice.

Depressive Illnesses

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people with mild or moderate depression in  (a) East Devon,  (b) the South West region and  (c) England.

Phil Hope: This information is not held centrally.
	Information is not collected centrally about diagnoses for any condition in primary care, so reliable data are not available about the number of people with mild or moderate depression. However, an Office of National Statistics survey recently found that one sixth of the population suffers from a common mental health problem at any one time.

Depressive Illnesses: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people with mild or moderate depression in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Most people with depression are seen and treated in primary care. However, data on the number of people with individual conditions seen in primary caresuch as depressionare not held centrally. While data are available on the total number of people admitted to the care of a consultant in secondary care with depression, they are likely to exclude many patients diagnosed with mild to moderate depression.

Depressive Illnesses: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of prescribing anti-depressant drugs in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire was in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The British National Formulary (BNF) classifies anti-depressant drugs within Section 4.3. The following table shows the net ingredient cost for drugs within this section that have been prescribed in West Hertfordshire primary care trust (PCT), which covers Hemel Hempstead, and in West Hertfordshire PCT and East and North Hertfordshire PCT combined, which cover Hertfordshire.
	
		
			  Net ingredient cost of anti-depressant drugs (BNF Section 4.3) in 2007-08 
			  Area  Net ingredient cost () 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 2,174,240 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT and East and North Hertfordshire PCT 4,734,441 
			  Source: Prescribing Analysis and Cost Tool (ePACT)

Depressive Illnesses: Medical Treatments

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to ensure that primary care trusts in the South West comply with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommendations on computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for mild and moderate depression; what estimate his Department has made of levels of compliance in the South West; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are obliged to provide funding for National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)-recommended computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) packages where clinicians want to use them, but the Department of Health is not in a position to ring-fence funds specifically for cCBT because decisions about funding local services are made by local commissioners based on local needs assessments.
	NICE technology appraisals (TA) are mandatory: if a clinician prescribes a product named in a TA, the PCT concerned has to make it available. Consequently, the Department recognises the important contribution that the effective provision of cCBT will make in supporting the NHS to implement the NICE guidelines and deliver effective treatment for people with depression and anxiety disorders. This is the core aim of the Department's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme.
	The Department is investing significantly in the IAPT programme with annual funding rising to 173 million in the third year (2010-11), to train 3,600 extra therapists and treat 900,000 more people in those three years.
	This programme is relieving distress and transforming lives by offering effective intervention and treatment choice to people with depression and anxiety disorders and improving the collection, recording and measuring of patients' health outcomes, producing data that allow further research.
	25 organisationspsychological therapies professional bodies and the leading mental health charitieshave signed up to the New Savoy Declaration, congratulating the Government on investing in the IAPT programme and pledging their support. CBT has the strongest evidence base and the greatest shortage of fully trained therapists, so we are addressing this shortage first. IAPT services will offer all NICE-approved therapies, including guided self-help, counselling, cCBT, behavioural activation and exercise.
	cCBT is recommended by the NICE technology appraisal TA097, and the directions on NICE appraisals impose an obligation on PCTs to ensure that cCBT is normally available to be prescribed or supplied and administered to patients.
	The Department has taken steps to support the implementation of cCBT. This has included the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) National Framework Agreement (March 2007) providing procurement advice to the national health service, publishing the cCBT Commissioning Guide (March 2007) which provided implementation advice to PCTs and the IAPT Commissioning Toolkit (April 2008) recommending the delivery of cCBT as an integral component of the IAPT model of care.
	cCBT is integral to the IAPT model of care which seeks to enable the NHS to implement the full range of NICE guidelines for effective treatment of people with depression and anxiety disorders.
	The Department's position is that while it continues to recognise the benefit of using cCBT to implement evidence-based psychological therapy services and it has acted to support the NHS in delivery, the level of uptake of cCBT is ultimately the decision of the local clinicians and NHS commissioners based on their assessment of the needs of their local populations.

Diabetes: Children

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children between the ages of  (a) five and seven,  (b) eight and 12 and  (c) 13 and 16 years in (i) North Wiltshire and (ii) London have type 1 diabetes.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally. However, estimates suggest there are an estimated 20,000 children with diabetes in England (the vast majority Type 1 diabetes) and some experts suggest that there may also be up to 1,000 children with type 2 diabetes in England.

Diabetes: Children

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged 16 years old and under have diabetes in England; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Data for the number of children of school age diagnosed with diabetes are not available. However, estimates suggest there are some 20,000 children with diabetes in England (the vast majority type 1 diabetes), and some experts suggest that there may be up to 1,000 children with type 2 diabetes in England.

Diabetes: Research

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department in each of the last five years on research into type 1 diabetes.

Ann Keen: The available information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  All diabetes research 
			   million 
			   Department  Medical Research Council 
			 2003-04 18.3 11.4 
			 2004-05 19.1 9.8 
			 2005-06 20.4 13.9 
			 2006-07 24.5 20 
			 2007-08 29.3 21.7 
		
	
	Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. Those organisations have since 2001 accounted for their use of the research and development allocations received from the Department in an annual report. The reports do not separately identify the cost of research concerned specifically with type 1 diabetes.
	Departmental expenditure from 2006-07 includes the costs of the National Institute for Health Research diabetes clinical research network formed in May 2006.

Direct Payments

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent to which the draft Regulations on the extension of direct payments provide protection for those who lack capacity as a result of mental illness.

Phil Hope: A consultation has just been carried out on the draft regulations in respect of the provisions in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to extend direct payments to those without capacity, including those who lack capacity as a result of mental health problems.
	Over 100 written responses have been received, mainly from local authorities, voluntary organisations, professional bodies and user and carer networks, including the Mental Health Foundation. The responses are currently being analysed and we are also working closely with the No Secrets: Safeguarding team.
	Next year, statutory guidance will be published on the regulations to support councils in making direct payments to these individuals.

Drugs: Misuse

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure was by his Department on drug and alcohol treatment in 2007-08; and what percentage of the overall budget was spent on monitoring and management of the commissioning process.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department, in association with a small contribution from the Home Office and subsequently the Ministry of Justice, has provided specific resources to local partnerships for drug treatment since 2001. This has been through the pooled drug treatment budget (PTB), with 398 million of funding provided in 2007-08. At a local level, partnerships also make available funding for drug treatment from mainstream allocations in addition to the PTB.
	The cost of alcohol treatment is met through NHS mainstream expenditure in line with local needs and priorities and is not collected centrally. However, access to treatment is reported through a national alcohol treatment monitoring system. There is also an NHS vital signs indicator to reduce the rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions, which has been adopted by 99 primary care trusts in their operating plans for 2008-09 to 2010-11.
	Information on the percentage of the overall budget spent on monitoring and management of the commissioning process locally is not collected centrally.
	However, 11.457 million was allocated by the Department in 2008-09 to the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) a special health authority with responsibility for improving the availability, capacity and effectiveness of treatment for drug misuse in England.

General Practitioners

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) GP surgeries and  (b) GP surgeries per head of population in England in (i) hamlets and isolated dwellings, (ii) villages, (iii) towns and fringe settlements and (iv) settlements of more than 10,000 inhabitants in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold centrally the information requested.

Health Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 20 October 2008,  Official Report, column 64W, on health centres, what assessment he has made of the effect of a minimum income guarantee for a new health centre on existing patient lists at general practices.

Ben Bradshaw: Providing an income guarantee to a new general practitioner (GP)-led health centre will have no impact on the funding of existing GP practices.
	It is for each primary care trust to determine locally the funding for their health centre, including what percentage of income is to be guaranteed to the provider and for how long.

Health Services: Children

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to publish its child health strategy.

Ann Keen: Children, families and stakeholders have been engaged in developing the strategy over the summer, and the proposals are being aligned with other activity and recommendations from key reviews such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services review. We expect to be in a position to publish the Child Health Strategy soon.

Health Services: East of England

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of waiting lists in each category for NHS patients in the East of England was in  (a) 1997,  (b) 2001 and  (c) 2005; and what the length of each list was at the latest date for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on the total in-patient waiting list by specialty for the East of England area in March 1997, March 2001, March 2005 and September 2007 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Quarter ending 
			  Specialty  March 1997  March 2001  March 2005  September 2007 
			 General surgery 13.9 12.8 8.9 5.3 
			 Urology 12.2 11.9 7.8 4.7 
			 Trauma and orthopaedics 17.2 18.9 11.8 7.9 
			 Ear nose and throat 12.8 12.4 9.3 6.7 
			 Ophthalmology 17.0 15.3 5.8 5.4 
			 Oral surgery 15.9 10.3 8.5 6.7 
			 Orthodontics 17.5 28.4 n/a 5.7 
			 Neurosurgery 17.4 17.6 11.7 5.9 
			 Plastic surgery 16.5 12.9 10.5 5.9 
			 Cardiothoracic surgery 15.5 18.1 6.5 6.1 
			 Paediatric surgery 11.1 9.4 7.8 6.1 
			 Accident and emergency 19.7 n/a 16.3 n/a 
			 Anaesthetics 8.7 11.2 9.8 6.7 
			 Pain management n/a 9.6 4.8 n/a 
			 General medicine 7.9 8.9 5.3 2.8 
			 Gastroenterology 8.6 7.7 4.6 2.4 
			 Endocrinology 9.9 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Clinical haematology 8.5 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Clinical immunology and allergy n/a n/a 23.5 n/a 
			 Rehabilitation 15.1 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cardiology 13.0 12.9 8.3 4.7 
			 Dermatology 9.9 7.6 5.4 3.7 
			 Thoracic medicine 9.0 8.0 7.3 3.2 
			 Nephrology 10.7 8.0 6.4 2.2 
			 Neurology 8.5 8.4 7.1 4.2 
			 Rheumatology 12.5 7.7 4.2 2.4 
			 Paediatrics 8.9 8.7 4.1 4.4 
			 Paediatric neurology n/a 11.7 n/a n/a 
			 Geriatric medicine 7.2 7.1 5.9 n/a 
			 Gynaecology 11.5 10.6 8.0 5.7 
			 General practice (non maternity) 10.0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Clinical oncology 8.1 n/a n/a 1.0 
			 Radiology 7.2 n/a n/a n/a 
			 All Specialties 13.7 13.0 8.6 5.8 
		
	
	
		
			   Month ending October 2008 
			 All Specialties 4.4 
			  Notes: 1. Inpatient waiting times are measured from decision to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital. 2. Data no longer collected by specialty after 30 September 2007  Source: The Department of Health quarterly waiting list statistics KH07.

Health Services: Ex-servicemen

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the arrangements put in place by primary healthcare trusts to inform health practitioners of veterans' priority treatment entitlement.

Ben Bradshaw: An update to existing guidance issued on 12 December 2007 to the NHS on priority treatment for war pensioners for any condition related to their service (HSG(97)21) extended entitlement to all veterans from 1 January 2008. This included a requirement that all GPs and clinical staff in PCTs and acute and mental health trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts were made aware of the changes. In line with the Government's policy of devolving decisions on how change is delivered in NHS organisations, it is appropriate for PCTs to decide how to take this forward. The Operating Framework published earlier this month draws attention to the need to take account of the special circumstances of veterans as part of the commissioning process. A copy has already been placed in the Library.

Hearing Aid Council

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on  (a) consumers and  (b) dispensers of the decision to delay the abolition of the Hearing Aid Council (HAC) until 31 March 2010; and whether HAC will be given additional powers to protect consumers during the period before the switch of responsibilities from it to the Health Professions Council.

Ann Keen: The Department, the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the Hearing Aid Council and the Health Professions Council are working towards the required legislation to allow the closure of the Hearing Aid Council and the transfer of its register.
	The Health Professions Council has powers to protect consumers that the Hearing Aid Council does not. The Hearing Aid Council have estimated that the additional cost to the industry is 1,107 and this is tax deductible.
	The Hearing Aid Council's powers will remain unchanged until the date of transfer of the dispensers to the Health Professions Council.

Hospital Beds

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delayed discharges there were in  (a) each strategic health authority area,  (b) each primary care trust area and  (c) England in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) reason for delay and (ii) age of patient; and how many patients in each case were occupying an acute hospital bed.

Phil Hope: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
	Data on the reason for the delayed discharge are not collected centrally for primary care trusts.

Hospital Beds

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bed nights patients who were ready for discharge spent in hospital in the last 12 months; and what the estimated total cost to the NHS of these delayed discharges was.

Phil Hope: holding answer 10 December 2008
	In the year ending 16 November 2008 there was a total of 1,737,475 bed-days as a result of delayed discharges from both acute and non-acute hospital beds in England. This represents a fall of almost 10 per cent. over the previous 12 months.
	We have made no estimate of the cost of these delayed discharges. Since January 2004, if a patient remains in hospital because social services have not provided the assessments or services the patient or their carer needs to be safely discharged, the local authority is liable to pay the national health service a charge per day of delay. The charge has been set at a level higher than the cost of providing services to support discharge to act as an incentive to councils to improve their assessment and service provision.

Hospitals: Parking

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to abolish hospital car park charges in England for cancer patients;
	(2)  if he will direct hospital trusts not to charge for hospital car parking for cancer patients.

Ben Bradshaw: The provision of car parking and the setting of appropriate car parking charges are decided by individual trusts, taking into account different local operating circumstances.
	Guidelines issued by the Department to support trusts to implement parking policies does advise that trusts should have schemes in place to ensure that patients and carers who visit hospital regularly are not disadvantaged. These schemes may include charging exemptions, concessionary or capped rates. Cancer patients in particular should benefit from these schemes.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of waiting lists in each category for NHS patients in the North East was in  (a) 1997,  (b) 2001 and  (c) 2005; and what the length of each list was at the latest date for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information on the total in-patient waiting list by specialty for the north-east Area in March 1997, March 2001, March 2005 and September 2007 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Quarter ending 
			  Specialty  March 1997  March 2001  March 2005  September 2007 
			 General surgery 12,454 10,202 5,882 4,358 
			 Urology 4,811 4,449 3,267 2,404 
			 Trauma and orthopaedics 11,657 11,379 10,063 9,055 
			 Ear, nose and throat 5,024 4,380 3,471 2,495 
			 Ophthalmology 7,522 6,473 3,464 3,802 
			 Oral surgery 3,859 1,395 1,972 1,996 
			 Restorative dentistry 0 0 0 9 
			 Orthodontics 24 21 0 0 
			 Neurosurgery 857 724 834 669 
			 Plastic surgery 3,015 2,700 2,339 1,468 
			 Cardiothoracic surgery 878 867 223 248 
			 Paediatric surgery 598 927 596 412 
			 Accident and Emergency 472 68 87 0 
			 Anaesthetics 200 137 44 418 
			 Pain management 0 414 349 0 
			 General medicine 1,600 542 375 236 
			 Gastroenterology 490 194 2 501 
			 Endocrinology 0 15 0 9 
			 Clinical haematology 18 17 5 6 
			 Clinical pharmacology 7 9 0 0 
			 Rehabilitation 11 1 4 3 
			 Palliative medicine 8 0 0 0 
			 Cardiology 1,406 1,118 1,350 1,335 
			 Dermatology 328 273 32 667 
			 Thoracic medicine 173 15 23 61 
			 Infectious diseases 0 0 0 0 
			 Nephrology 27 8 6 3 
			 Neurology 306 240 202 120 
			 Rheumatology 130 26 15 3 
			 Paediatrics 1 11 0 13 
			 Paediatric neurology 0 0 0 0 
			 Geriatric medicine 13 19 1 0 
			 Medical ophthalmology 0 0 0 0 
			 Gynaecology 4,191 3,154 2,855 1,967 
			 General practice (non-maternity) 257 0 0 0 
			 Mental handicap 4 4 21 11 
			 Mental illness 58 11 4 5 
			 Child and adolescent psychiatry  1 3 0 
			 Forensic psychiatry 0 0 0 0 
			 Old age psychiatry 23 6 2 0 
			 Clinical oncology 45 0 2 42 
			 Occupational medicine 0 0 0 222 
			 All specialties 60,467 49,800 37,493 32,538 
		
	
	
		
			   Month ending October 2008 
			 All specialties 29,107 
			  Notes: 1. In-patient waiting times are measured from decision to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital. 2. Data no longer collected by specialty after 30 September 2007.  Source: The Department quarterly waiting list statistics KH07

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what account was taken of experience in other countries using  (a) Cervarix and  (b) Gardisil in the appraisals undertaken to inform the decision to select Cervarix as the national Human Papilloma Virus vaccine.

Dawn Primarolo: The award criteria for the evaluation of the contract to supply Human papillovirus (HPV) vaccine is set out as follows. These do not include criteria regarding experience in other countries.
	
		
			  Criteria  Points 
			 Quality of protection against cervical cancers caused by HPV strains 16/18 Maximum (Max) of 5,000 
			 Duration of protection against cervical cancers caused by HPV strains 16/18 for more than 10 years duration Max of 3,000 
			 Quality of protection against anogenital warts caused by HPV Strains 6/11 Max of 1,300 
			 Duration of protection against anogenital warts caused by HPV Strains 6/11 for more than 10 years duration Max of 500 
			 Quality of protection against HPV strains not included in the vaccine formulation Max of 1000 
			 Other evidence of additional clinical benefits Max of 500 
			 Effective Price per dose excluding VAT Commercially confidential 
			 Supply of the vaccine as single pre-filled syringe pack presentation Max of 10 
			 Quality of labelling, leaflets and presentation Max of 5 
			 Shelf life Max of 120 
			 Flexibility in the vaccine dosage schedule Max of 70 
			 Offers that reduce the risk of wastage if the vaccine is subject to temperatures above 8C (this include the provision of temperature indicators and evidence based guidance on the stability of the vaccines at higher storage temperatures and subsequent safe administration.) Max of 200 
			 Closeness of proposed delivery schedule to Authority requirements Max of 200 
			 Pallet configuration including a preference for the use of Euro pallets Max of 5 
			 Impact of proposed amendments to the terms and conditions (-500). Offerors may lose up to 500 points 
			 Quality/Robustness of manufacturing contingency arrangements Max of 10 
			 Quality/Robustness of the risk Management of storage and distribution Max of 10 
			 Information provided relating to pack sizes, Cold Chain Delivery, Batch Numbering systems and production capacity Max of 5

Injuries: Young People

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions for  (a) unintended and  (b) deliberate injury there were per 10,000 people aged under 19 years in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The data requested are in the table. They provide a count of finished in-year admission episodes for 2006-07 using the ICD-10 external cause codes which fall into the following categories:
	Unintended injury;
	Deliberate injury;
	Other injury.
	The rates given are per 10,000 of the 0-18 population for each of the categories using mid-2006 population estimates.
	
		
			  Count of admissions to hospital for unintended, deliberate and other injuries for under-19s, per 10,000 of the population (2006-07) (Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector) 
			  External cause type  Finished admission episodes  (age 0-18 inclusive)  Rate per 10,000 population 
			 Unintended 146,507 125.5 
			 Deliberate 24,673 21.1 
			 Other 889 0.8 
			  Notes: 1.  Finished in-year admissions: A finished in-year admission episode is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one health care provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the data year. Finished in-year admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode starts and finishes. Therefore, admission episodes that start and finish in different years are not countedfor most conditions this represents a small proportion of the total. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2.  Cause code: The cause code is a supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. The field within HES counts only the first external cause code, which is coded within the episode. 3.  Data quality: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 4.  Ungrossed data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed). 5.  External cause codes: (a) Unintended: V01-X59 (accidents), Y40-Y84 (complications of medical and surgical care), Y85-Y86, Y88 (sequelae of unintended causes), Y90-Y98 (supplementary factors). Excluding: X33-X39 (forces of nature)  X52 (prolonged stay in weightless environment). (b) Deliberate: X60-X84 (intentional self-harm), X85-Y09 (assault), Y87.0-Y87.1 (sequelae of intentional self-harm and assault). (c) Other: Y10-Y34 (undetermined intent), Y35-Y36 (legal intervention and war), Y87.2 (sequelae of undetermined intent), Y89 (sequelae of other external causes).  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care, 2006 Mid Year Estimates, 2001 Census based from: ONS Population Estimates Unit.

Kidney Patients

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people required kidney dialysis in  (a) Halton,  (b) Cheshire and  (c) Merseyside in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many kidney dialysis units there were in the North West of England in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The information is not centrally available.
	Information on the number of patients on dialysis is collected by the UK Renal Registry. The annual reports contain analysis of data from 1997 to 2006 and can be found on the Renal Registry's website at the following website:
	www.renalreg.com

Kidney Patients

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been of purchasing kidney dialysis by the National Health Service in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected by the Department for the period for which it is requested. In 2005-06, expenditure on haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in England was estimated to be 430 million.
	Information on the number of patients on dialysis is collected by the UK Renal Registry. The annual reports containing analysis of data from 1997 to 2006 can be found on the Renal Registry's website at the following website:
	http://www.renalreg.com

Learning Disability: Social Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase levels of funding for local authorities to take account of the effect of the increasing number of people with learning disabilities on provision made by local authority social services departments.

Phil Hope: The Valuing People Now strategy will be published early in the new year. In taking forward this strategy, we will continue to explore how to improve information on the number and needs of people with learning disabilities, in discussion with the Learning Disability Coalition and councils. This will enable better understanding of current and projected demands for this area and help to inform local needs assessments.
	An extensive public engagement on care and support has just ended. This looked at the principles that should underpin reform for the provision and funding of care and support services to reflect the increasing pressure of rising need levels, including the increasing number of people with learning disabilities. The engagement will help inform the Care and Support Green Paper, which will also be published early in 2009.
	It is the responsibility of local councils to determine how much of their funding is allocated between different local priorities, including adult social care and, therefore, services for people with learning disabilities.

Medical Records: Disclosure of Information

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to healthcare trusts on the release of medical records to representatives of deceased people.

Ben Bradshaw: Access to the health records of a deceased person is governed by the Access to Health Records Act 1990. Guidance to trusts and the public on how to access such records is provided in the form of 'frequently asked questions' on the Department's website and can be found at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Informationpolicy/Patientconfidentialityandcaldicottguardians/FAQ/DH_065886#_38
	A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.

Mental Capacity Act 2005

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what  (a) amendments have been made to and  (b) recent representations he has received on the Mental Capacity Act 2005; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which  (a) statutory instruments,  (b) departmental circulars and  (c) other documents he (i) has issued and (ii) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequential on the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Mental Capacity Act 2005 has been amended under the Mental Health Act to introduce the Deprivation Of Liberty Safeguards which will come into force on 1 April 2009. It was also used to introduce a small amendment to increase access to the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate service.
	Officials are working on the implementation of both the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the subsequent amendments and they have been involved in consultations on the new code and the development of training and forms and monitoring. They are working closely with stakeholders from a range of organisations.
	There have been no recent ministerial representations on the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
	Three statutory instruments have been laid in relation to the amendments to the Mental Capacity Act brought about by the Mental Health Act. In addition, the code of practice for the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, a Local Authority Circular and a letter to the NHS have been issued.
	There are plans to lay one further statutory instrument on monitoring the Safeguards and to issue further local authority circulars and letters to the NHS as required.
	The relevant legislative and non-legislative information is as follows.
	 Statutory Instruments (SI)
	2008 No. 1858
	Mental Capacity, England: The Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Standard Authorisations, Assessments and Ordinary Residence) Regulations 2008
	Made: 9 July 2008; came into force: 3 November 2008
	2008 No. 1315
	Mental Capacity, England
	The Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Appointment of Relevant Person's Representative) Regulations 2008
	Made: 14 May 2008; Laid 20 May 2008; came into force: 3 November 2008
	2008 No. 2368
	Mental Capacity, England
	The Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Appointment of Relevant Person's Representative) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
	Made: 5 September 2008; Laid 12 September 2008; came into force: 3rd November 2008
	A further SI on monitoring will be laid
	 The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Code of Practice
	Under the Amendment to the MCA, brought about by the MHA, the Lord Chancellor has issued a code of practice for the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (which is subject to the negative parliamentary process) and which was published in August 2008.
	The Department has issued one Local Authority Circular, which sets out the resources available to local authorities over the three year period: LAC (DH) 2008.
	The Department sent one letter to chief executives on 28 April about resources being made available to the NHS.
	There will be further correspondence with both local authorities and the NHS in 2009 about the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Mental Health Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) crisis resolution,  (b) assertive outreach and  (c) early intervention teams in the field of mental health there were at the end of March 2008.

Phil Hope: At the end of March 2008, in England there were 344 crisis resolution, 249 assertive outreach and 150 early intervention teams.

Mental Health Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to bring forward proposals to amend the Mental Health Act 2007 to include mental capacity as a condition of compulsory treatment in light of the NHS constitution.

Phil Hope: The Government have no plans to amend the Mental Health Act 2007 (or the Mental Health Act 1983) to make compulsory treatment under that legislation conditional on a person either having, or lacking, capacity to consent.

Mental Health Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local psychological therapy services there are in England; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: This information is not held centrally. However, the Government are committed to delivering a significant expansion of appropriately trained and accredited psychological therapists to build on these existing services and provide access to people across the country who experience the debilitating conditions of depression and/or anxiety disorders.
	Training this new work force will take time, so Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services will be implemented carefully over the next few years. This process started with the first 37 primary care trust areas implementing their new services in November this year and the Department expects that by 2011 half of England will have access to these services.
	We are investing significantly in the IAPT programme, with annual funding rising to 173 million in the third year, to train 3,600 extra therapists and treat up to 900,000 more people in those three years.

Mental Health Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent progress has been made in training therapists under the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: There are currently more than 800 trainees on courses against a target of 700 set out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Alan Johnson) last year.
	This figure is likely to rise to 1,100 when the second cohort starts in the spring next year.

Mental Health Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps his Department has taken to improve progress towards standard 6 of the National Service Framework for Mental Health.

Phil Hope: Our vision is that all carers will be respected as expert care partners and will have access to the integrated and personalised services they need to support them in their caring role.
	The Carers' Strategy, 'Carers at the Heart of 21st Century Families and Communities', published in June 2008 (a copy of which has already been placed in the Library), makes it clear that carers of all ages should not have to ignore personal health concerns and needs because their caring role does not allow the time to address them. The services and support available to carers should be such to enable them to stay as mentally and physically well as possible throughout their caring role, from young carers through to older carers.
	The strategy therefore makes the commitment to pilot annual health checks for carers in a number of primary care trust (PCT) areas. It was envisaged in the strategy that they will focus on carers in the highest intensity roles. Health checks should give both carers and health professionals an opportunity to detect and deal with, at an early stage, any problems the carer may have.
	By December 2006 there were 796 mental health carer support workers in place to increase the breaks available for carers and to strengthen carer support networks.

Mental Health Services

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are being treated in medium secure mental health services.

Phil Hope: The data collected record the numbers of mental health and learning disability secure unit beds in national health service units only, and the data include high, medium and some low secure units. These figures only show NHS beds and not those commissioned by the NHS and provided by independent sector providers.
	The following table shows the average availability and daily occupancy of NHS secure unit beds, and learning disability secure unit beds in NHS units in England in 2007-08.
	
		
			  Average daily number of mental health and learning disability secure unit beds in NHS units2007-08 
			   Number 
			 Available Mental Illness 3,159 
			 Occupancy Mental Illness 2,885 
			 Available Learning Disability 554 
			 Occupancy Learning Disability 508 
			  Note: The definitions of Mental Health and Learning Disability Secure Unit Beds, for the purposes of the KH03 annual beds collection, are: Mental IllnessOther ages, Secure unit an AGE GROUP INTENDED of National Code 8 'Any age', a BROAD PATIENT GROUP CODE of National Code 5 'Patients with mental illness' and a CLINICAL CARE INTENSITY of National Code 51 'for intensive care: specially designated ward for patients needing containment and more intensive management'. This is not to be confused with intensive nursing where a patient may require one to one nursing while on a standard ward. Learning disabilitiesOther ages, Secure unit an AGE GROUP INTENDED of National Code 8 'Any age', a BROAD PATIENT GROUP CODE of National Code 6 'Patients with learning difficulties' and a CLINICAL CARE INTENSITY of National Code 61 'designated or interim secure unit'.  Source: Department of Health Dataset KH03

Mental Health Services: Ethnic Groups

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the findings of the Healthcare Commission's report on the 2006 national census of inpatients in mental health and learning disability services, Count Me In, with respect to the diagnosis, medication and accommodation of patients from ethnic minorities.

Phil Hope: The Healthcare Commission published its report on the 2008 Count Me In census on 27 November. Count Me In does not collect information about patients' diagnosis or medication.
	We welcomed the report and concur with its principal conclusions. Mental health services still need to do more to meet the needs of diverse communities and tackle inequalities in mental health. Our Delivering Race Equality action plan, supported by over 400 new community development workers across the country, has already helped to deliver progress and remains the blueprint for services to follow.

Mental Health Services: Ethnic Groups

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve mental health provision in the Asian community; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of those steps.

Phil Hope: In 2005 the Department launched 'Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care' (DRE). DRE is a five year action plan designed to improve black and minority ethnic (BME) communities' experience of mental health services, including that of Asian communities.
	There has been significant progress. The DRE programme has helped to develop replicable good practice around tailored pathways of care for BME service usersfor example, the collaboration between the Sheffield mental health crisis resolution and home treatment service and the local Pakistani Muslim Centre. New training in race equality for mental health staff has been tested successfully and made available nationally. The pilot project in Newham, East London, of the programme improving access to psychological therapies has demonstrated that Asian and other BME communities can have equal access to, and equal outcomes from, the new services. Primary care trusts have so far recruited over 400 new community development workers, whose role is to build links between local BME communities and mental health services and to help communities play a part in planning and providing those services.
	We do, though, believe that the national health service still must do more to meet the needs of increasingly diverse local populations, particularly by delivering early and equitable access to effective community-based interventions. These issues will stay a priority for services for the duration of the DRE programme and beyond.

Mental Health Services: Ethnic Groups

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether his Department has commissioned research into mental health problems amongst Asian women in England;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to address the stigma attached to mental health problems in the Asian community.

Phil Hope: The Department's National Institute for Health Research is not currently funding research of this kind. The 2002 survey of Ethnic Minority Psychiatric Illness Rates in the Community (EMPIRIC) provided estimates of the prevalence of common mental disorders and psychosis, information on social support and information on access to services. Estimates are provided for Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library and is on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_4005698.
	The Department's Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care programme (DRE) is helping to raise awareness among black and minority ethnic communities of mental health issues and to develop services more sensitive to communities' particular needs. It is also collaborating with Shift, the Department's five-year campaign addressing stigma and mental health.
	In November 2008 Shift launched the award-winning short film 'Open Secrets', about the stigma surrounding mental illness in the Asian community. The film has been dubbed into Gujarati and Hindi. 'Open Secrets' is intended to be used by DRE's network of community development workers and as a tool to influence Asian media, health and social care organisations and policymakers. Shift and DRE will promote the film at regional and local screenings in community and health and social care contexts to raise awareness and promote discussion. The film will be available on the internet from 1 April 2009.
	Shift has also commissioned the consultancy Ethnic Communications to carry out a qualitative research project looking at how mental health stories are portrayed in the South Asian media. This work will be published at the DRE national conference in March 2009.

Mental Health Services: Prisons

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the prison health care budget was spent on mental health care during the last financial year.

Phil Hope: Commissioning responsibility for mental health care and treatment within the prison estate transferred fully to primary care trusts in 2006.
	Investment in health services provided to prisons increased from 118 million in 2002-03 to nearly 200 million in 2007-08. By 2005-06, nearly 20 million was being invested recurrently in mental health in-reach services. There are now 102 mental health in-reach teams and all prisons now have access to them.

Mental Health Services: Prisons

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards achieving the target of a waiting time of 14 days for the transfer of prisoners with severe mental illness to hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department is currently exploring ways to make progress towards the 14 day standard waiting time for transfer through the provision of guidance and support for the national health service and Criminal Justice System to work in closer partnership together, and reduce delays for this very vulnerable group.
	We have asked Lord Bradley to consider the diversion of offenders with mental health problems and learning disabilities away from prison and we expect his report to be available next year.

Mental Illness

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the recommendations relevant to his Department's policy responsibilities made in the Foresight report on Mental Capacity and Well-Being, with particular reference to the costs to the NHS of managing mental ill health; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Government welcome the findings of the Foresight research report into mental capital and well-being, in particular, its emphasis on enabling people to realise increased mental well-being. We recognise the significant cost of mental ill health to the economy as a whole. Since 2001-02, our investment in adult mental health services has increased by 44 per cent. or 1.7 billion, to 5.53 billion.
	We are already taking forward action in a number of ways consistent with the report's conclusions. For example, we are investing significantly in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, with annual funding rising to 173 million in the third year (2010-11), to train 3,600 extra therapists and treat 900,000 more people in those three years.
	The Foresight report will continue to inform the development of mental health policy, in particular, the new policy framework that will succeed the mental health national service framework.

Mentally Ill: Cannabis

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions on mental health grounds resulting from the use of cannabis there were in each year since 1997, broken down by strategic health authority area.

Dawn Primarolo: The information has been placed in the Library.

Midwives

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many births per whole-time equivalent NHS midwife there were in each year since 2001, broken down by primary care trust area.

Ann Keen: Information is not collected in the format requested. The following table has the number of births per whole-time midwife in each year since 2001, broken down by strategic health authority.
	
		
			  National health services hospital and community health services: live births per full-time equivalent midwives in England by strategic health authority (SHA) as at 30 September in each specified year 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 England 31 31 32 32 32 34 34 
			 
			 North East SHA 25 26 27 27 28 29 29 
			 North West SHA 25 24 26 25 26 27 28 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 30 29 30 30 30 33 33 
			 East Midlands SHA 32 34 35 37 37 39 40 
			 West Midlands SHA 29 29 29 30 31 32 32 
			 East of England SHA 39 37 38 39 38 38 38 
			 London SHA 37 38 36 37 35 35 36 
			 South East SHA 38 35 37 36 36 37 37 
			 South Central SHA 35 35 37 38 40 43 40 
			 South West SHA 27 28 29 29 29 31 32 
			  Notes: 1. Birth registrations 2001 to 2007 as at 31 December in each specified year. Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 2. SHA totals 2001 to 2005 have been calculated using previous health authority (HA) and SHA configurations. HAs were reconfigured to become 28 SHAs in 2002 and were subsequently reconfigured into 10 SHAs in 2006. Due to overlaps in the HA/SHA reconfigurations, parts of West Pennine HA and North Derbyshire HA were split over Trent SHA and Greater Manchester SHA. These figures were included in the Trent SHA total to give the figure for the new East Midlands SHA.  Sources: The Information Centre for Health and Social Care Non-medical Workforce Census. Office for National Statistics Birth Registrations 2001-07.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 8 December 2008,  Official Report, column 30WS, on the NHS Operating Framework, what weighting is given to age in each year's allocations to primary care trusts.

Ben Bradshaw: Revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2009-10 and 2010-11 have been informed by the new weighted capitation formula recommended by the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation. The weighted capitation formula is used to determine PCTs' target allocations, and gives older people a much higher weighting than those in their twenties and thirties.
	Around 30 per cent. of the variation in target allocations per head between PCTs is estimated to be due to differences in the ages of PCTs' populations. Actual allocations to PCTs depend also on pace of change policy; how quickly PCTs are brought closer towards their target allocations through the distribution of additional funding. Due to pace of change policy, it is not possible to estimate how much variation in actual allocations between PCTs is due to age.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Written Ministerial Statement of 8 December 2008,  Official Report, column 30WS, on the NHS Operating Framework, if he will provide a breakdown by financial year of the 800 million drawdown of the NHS surplus; and by what mechanism the drawdown will take place.

Ben Bradshaw: The aggregate surplus delivered in 2008-09 by strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) will be carried forward into 2009-10. This surplus will start to be deployed in a planned and managed way and will probably total some 800 million over the two financial years, 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	The mechanism that will be used to deploy the surplus is through each SHA area determining and agreeing with the Department the level of accumulated surplus deployment required for 2009-10 and 2010-11 based on their local planning requirements.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons primary care trusts are not receiving an increase in their resource budgets equivalent to the increases in his Department's resource budgets for  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Ben Bradshaw: The additional resources that primary care trusts (PCTs) received in 2008-09 were not limited to the 5.5 per cent. uplift in revenue allocations. In addition, the Department allocated a further 1.7 billion of central budgets direct to PCTs thereby increasing the proportion of the total NHS revenue budget that is allocated direct to PCTs.
	In 2009-10 the Department will hold an unallocated sum for contingencies, on a non-recurrent basis. These will be released over the year, over and above the 5.5 per cent. allocations growth. Decisions on 2010-11 central contingencies will be made as part of the planning process for 2010-11.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of his Department's revenue budget has been allocated to primary care trusts for each year from 1996-97 to 2010-11.

Ben Bradshaw: The requested statistics are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   NHS revenue expenditure ( billion)( 1,2,3,4,5)  Revenue allocations including additional funding announced alongside allocations ( billion)( 6)  Percentage of NHS revenue in PCT control at time of allocations announcement 
			 1996-97 31.656 22.714 71.8 
			 1997-98 33.575 23.843 71.0 
			 1998-99 35.801 24.951 69.7 
			 1999-2000 39.293 31.328 79.7 
			 2000-01 42.686 34.429 80.7 
			 2001-02 47.289 37.220 78.7 
			 2002-03 51.935 41.270 79.5 
			 2003-04 61.865 45.313 73.2 
			 2004-05 66.873 49.673 74.3 
			 2005-06 74.168 54.307 73.2 
			 2006-07 78.468 64.644 82.4 
			 2007-08 86.344 70.689 81.9 
			 2008-09 92.475 75.880 82.1 
			 2009-10 98.263 80.031 81.4 
			 2010-11 104.603 84.432 80.7 
			 (1 )Changes to accounting treatment mean that figures are not consistent over the period, therefore it is difficult to make comparisons (2) Expenditure before 1999-2000 is on a cash basis. (3) Expenditure figures from 1999-00 to 2002-03 are on a Stage 1 Resource Budgeting basis (4) Expenditure figures from 2003-04 are on a Stage 2 Resource Budgeting basis. (5) 2002-03 to 2006-07 figures are outturn (the actual year end position), 2007-08 figures are estimated outturn, and 2008-09 to 2010-11 is plan. (6) The additional funding announced alongside allocations might include central budgets or other special allocations which determine PCT initial resource limits.

NHS: ICT

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with  (a) his counterpart in the Government of Singapore and  (b) Singaporean health care institutions on the Lorenzo software product; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to study the effectiveness of the use of the Lorenzo software product by Singhealth; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: None. However, a number of telephone calls have been conducted between NHS Connecting for Health officials and Singhealth for the purposes of gathering background information about experience in Singapore. The Department currently has no plans to conduct a detailed review of the experience of the Lorenzo product at Singhealth.

NHS: ICT

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with  (a) his counterpart in the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and  (b) health care institutions in the UAE on the deployment of Cerner electronic patient management and care record systems; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: None.

NHS: Pay

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change in real terms was in  (a) nurses' and  (b) NHS ancillary staff pay in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The increase in real terms in nurses pay and ancillary staff pay for each of the last five years is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Nurses  Ancillary staff 
			   Increase in average earnings (percentage)  Real terms increase (percentage)  Increase in average earnings (percentage)  Real terms increase (percentage) 
			 2004-05 5.10 2.32 8.70 5.82 
			 2005-06 3.90 1.81 6.60 4.46 
			 2006-07 3.90 1.18 6.60 3.81 
			 2007-08 4.00 0.91 6.70 3.53 
			 2008-09 5.30 1.99 5.30 1.99

NHS: Payments

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of NHS bodies in making payments to suppliers within 10 days of receiving an invoice; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not currently collect such performance data because no specific requirement has yet been placed on national health service bodies to meet a 10 day target.
	However, David Nicholson, NHS Chief Executive, wrote to all NHS Trust Chief Executives on 21 October asking them to examine and review existing payment practices and payment performance and to move as closely as possible to the 10-day payment commitment that has been set for Government Departments wherever practical. Bill Moyes, Executive Chair, Monitor, has written similarly to all foundation trusts.
	NHS prompt payment performance against the 30 day payment target is reported in annual accounts. The 2007-08 accounts for NHS Trusts recorded an 83 per cent. achievement against the 30 day payment target for non-NHS payments.

NHS: Per Capita Costs

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent per head of population by each primary care trust in 2007-08, ranked from the highest to lowest.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Primary care trust  Spend per head of population () 
			 Islington PCT 1,992 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 1,921 
			 Halton and St. Helens PCT 1,890 
			 Southwark PCT 1,881 
			 Lambeth PCT 1,859 
			 Knowsley PCT 1,858 
			 Liverpool PCT 1,835 
			 Stoke on Trent PCT 1,827 
			 Salford PCT 1,826 
			 Camden PCT 1,815 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 1,806 
			 Manchester PCT 1,797 
			 Blackpool PCT 1,772 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 1,752 
			 Lewisham PCT 1,736 
			 Newcastle PCT 1,708 
			 South Tyneside PCT 1,691 
			 Newham PCT 1,672 
			 Gateshead PCT 1,666 
			 Wakefield District PCT 1,664 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 1,652 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 1,645 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 1,642 
			 Hartlepool PCT 1,635 
			 Sefton PCT 1,625 
			 Wirral PCT 1,625 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 1,614 
			 South Birmingham PCT 1,608 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 1,606 
			 Wandsworth PCT 1,597 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 1,594 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 1,594 
			 Sandwell PCT 1,589 
			 North Tyneside PCT 1,589 
			 Blackburn with Darwen PCT 1,585 
			 Nottingham City PCT 1,581 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 1,578 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 1,577 
			 Oldham PCT 1,574 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 1,567 
			 County Durham PCT 1,564 
			 Doncaster PCT 1,561 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 1,561 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 1,557 
			 Darlington PCT 1,554 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 1,549 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 1,548 
			 Sheffield PCT 1,546 
			 Barnsley PCT 1,546 
			 Northumberland Care PCT 1,545 
			 Torbay Care PCT 1,544 
			 Bristol PCT 1,543 
			 Westminster PCT 1,541 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 1,537 
			 Ealing PCT 1,529 
			 Isle of Wight NHS PCT 1,525 
			 Brighton and Hove City PCT 1,518 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 1,510 
			 Peterborough PCT 1,506 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 1,505 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 1,498 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 1,497 
			 Rotherham PCT 1,497 
			 Leeds PCT 1,494 
			 Leicester City PCT 1,488 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 1,486 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 1,484 
			 Bolton PCT 1,477 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 1,473 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 1,468 
			 Southampton City PCT 1,465 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 1,464 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus 1,456 
			 North Tees PCT 1,453 
			 Hounslow PCT 1,451 
			 Cumbria PCT 1,445 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 1,440 
			 Enfield PCT 1,440 
			 West Essex PCT 1,436 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 1,435 
			 Derby City PCT 1,429 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 1,429 
			 Calderdale PCT 1,426 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 1,417 
			 Dudley PCT 1,414 
			 Bury PCT 1,413 
			 Trafford PCT 1,410 
			 Devon PCT 1,410 
			 Stockport PCT 1,408 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 1,405 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 1,400 
			 Bournemouth and Poole PCT 1,398 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 1,392 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 1,388 
			 Havering PCT 1,384 
			 North Somerset PCT 1,382 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 1,378 
			 West Sussex PCT 1,376 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 1,373 
			 Dorset PCT 1,372 
			 Kirklees PCT 1,369 
			 Warrington PCT 1,367 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 1,364 
			 Shropshire County PCT 1,360 
			 Barnet PCT 1,359 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 1,351 
			 Herefordshire PCT 1,347 
			 South East Essex PCT 1,346 
			 Harrow PCT 1,344 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 1,344 
			 Redbridge PCT 1,343 
			 Somerset PCT 1,338 
			 North East Essex PCT 1,330 
			 Croydon PCT 1,329 
			 Hillingdon PCT 1,326 
			 Swindon PCT 1,322 
			 Bexley NHS Care Trust PCT 1,321 
			 Norfolk PCT 1,320 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 1,318 
			 Luton PCT 1,317 
			 Warwickshire PCT 1,315 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 1,312 
			 Solihull NHS Care Trust PCT 1,311 
			 Bromley PCT 1,309 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 1,305 
			 Worcestershire PCT 1,301 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 1,301 
			 Surrey PCT 1,299 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 1,298 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 1,297 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 1,294 
			 South West Essex PCT 1,290 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 1,277 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 1,271 
			 Medway PCT 1,264 
			 West Kent PCT 1,256 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 1,255 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 1,254 
			 Berkshire East PCT 1,233 
			 Suffolk PCT 1,232 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 1,228 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 1,215 
			 Kingston PCT 1,214 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 1,214 
			 Berkshire West PCT 1,205 
			 Hampshire PCT 1,204 
			 Wiltshire PCT 1,200 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 1,200 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 1,198 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 1,183 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 1,168 
			 Mid Essex PCT 1,166 
			  Notes: 1. Spend is based on the net operating costs reported in primary care trusts' (PCTs') audited summarisation schedules. This does not include all expenditure as the majority of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the NHS Business Services Authority rather than by PCTs. 2. The unweighted population figure used to calculate spend per head is the PCT responsible population using the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2007 population projection, adjusted using GP practice lists.

Organophosphates: Sheep Dipping

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the Zuckerman report, with particular reference to its analysis of the potential links between organophosphate sheep dips and long-term health problems.

Dawn Primarolo: The Zuckerman Report, released in 1951, pointed out the high acute toxicity of some organophosphates. This has long been recognised. There are vastly different potencies of compounds that have been used as pesticides, with less potent compounds replacing the early organophosphates. During the two decades after the release of the Zuckerman report, organophosphates with selective toxicity to insects and relatively low toxicity to mammals were developed and their use increased rapidly in the 1970s.
	In 2007, the Government asked the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) for advice on the significance of Government-funded and other published research, which has investigated the link between the use of organophosphate sheep dips and chronic ill-health. The COT advice should be available in 2010.

Palliative Care

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the development of a national end-of-life care strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The End of Life Care Strategy was published on 16 July 2008. A copy of the strategy has already been placed in the Library.

Palliative Care: Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent to which the National Advanced Communication Skills Training Programme meets the needs of NHS staff working in end-of-life care; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: As part of the implementation of the End of Life Care Strategy, the national advanced communication skills training programme, developed initially for cancer services, will be piloted to determine whether it meets the work force development needs of staff working in end of life care services. We expect the pilot to have taken place by the end of 2009.

Primary Care Trusts: Population

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to primary care trusts on the use of workforce modelling as a means of reviewing and improving their approach to population models.

Ann Keen: The Department has not issued any guidance to primary care trusts on the use of work force modelling as a means of reviewing and improving their approach to population models.
	Local organisations are responsible for work force planning in the national health service, as they are best placed to assess what is required to deliver the health care services that their local population require.
	Through the NHS Next Stage Review, the Department has committed to establishing professional advisory boards and a Centre of Excellence to strengthen work force planning and strategy across the NHS. The professional advisory boards will provide advice and guidance to strengthen clinical input to work force planning at regional and national level. The Centre of Excellence will provide high quality intelligence and develop models and resources to support work force planning at all levels.

Primary Care Trusts: Working Hours

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what  (a) modelling of and  (b) pilots for integrated out-of-hours care his Department has recently studied to inform the development of guidance to be issued to primary care trusts;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has issued to primary care trusts on the integration of out-of-hours care and wider primary care.

Ben Bradshaw: The configuration of services is a matter for the national health service locally, working in conjunction with clinicians, patients, local communities and other stakeholders.
	We recognise that the NHS needs to improve integration between local services. The Primary and Community Care Strategy included a vision of integrated urgent care services available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We are supporting the NHS to help them produce commissioning intentions that reflect this vision.
	The National Quality Requirements in the Delivery of Out-of-Hours services state that out-of-hours providers must send details of all consultations (including appropriate clinical information) to the practice where the patient is registered by 8 am the next working day.

Public Consultation: Staffordshire

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was allocated by his Department to each local authority in Staffordshire for the hosting of local involvement networks in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: The allocations for 2008-09 for local authorities in Staffordshire are: 0.301 million for Staffordshire and 0.163 million for Stoke-on-Trent.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of each sexually transmitted infection were confirmed in each month of the last four years.

Dawn Primarolo: Data for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed in a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic are not currently available on a monthly basis. The latest annual data are published in All new STI episodes seen at GUM clinics in the UK: 1998 to 2007, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
	In addition to STIs diagnosed in a GUM clinic, the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) provides screening to asymptomatic people aged under 25 years of age in England. The NCSP was launched in 2003 when a phased implementation programme started. The following table shows the number of young people between the ages of 13 to 24 screened and diagnosed with Chlamydia each month between 1 April 2004 and 30 September 2008.
	
		
			  Month  Total number of  Chlamydia  screens  Total number of confirmed  Chlamydia  positives 
			 April 2004 2,563 288 
			 May 2004 2,870 329 
			 June 2004 3,164 364 
			 July 2004 3,853 480 
			 August 2004 3,870 462 
			 September 2004 4,996 591 
			 October 2004 5,482 569 
			 November 2004 7,418 722 
			 December 2004 5,096 546 
			 January 2005 6,961 739 
			 February 2005 8,013 842 
			 March 2005 9,018 852 
			 April 2005 8,472 884 
			 May 2005 8,269 818 
			 June 2005 7,921 793 
			 July 2005 7,178 753 
			 August 2005 6,856 671 
			 September 2005 8,618 900 
			 October 2005 9,721 977 
			 November 2005 12,987 1,150 
			 December 2005 8,914 832 
			 January 2006 10,793 1,032 
			 February 2006 10,654 1,020 
			 March 2006 12,335 1,173 
			 April 2006 8,866 855 
			 May 2006 11,338 1,048 
			 June 2006 9,925 968 
			 July 2006 10,168 1,072 
			 August 2006 11,159 1,310 
			 September 2006 12,894 1,258 
			 October 2006 14,423 1,546 
			 November 2006 16,553 1,568 
			 December 2006 11,051 1,081 
			 January 2007 18,286 1,805 
			 February 2007 17,911 1,639 
			 March 2007 20,587 1,855 
			 April 2007 17,241 1,662 
			 May 2007 20,941 1,930 
			 June 2007 20,204 1,861 
			 July 2007 20,695 1,998 
			 August 2007 18,958 1,857 
			 September 2007 25,238 2,199 
			 October 2007 30,371 2,627 
			 November 2007 36,726 2,924 
			 December 2007 23,958 1,919 
			 January 2008 37,868 3,167 
			 February 2008 46,947 3,542 
			 March 2008 44,357 3,391 
			 April 2008 45,403 3,730 
			 May 2008 42,002 3,373 
			 June 2008 38,714 3,147 
			 July 2008 39,793 3,321 
			 August 2008 37,836 3,189 
			 September 2008 59,014 4,224 
			 Total 945,449 83,853 
			  Notes: 1. Total number of screens includes all screens done through the NCSP irrespective of result. Therefore please note positivity cannot be calculated using these data presented since the denominator when calculating positivity is based on positive and negative screens only.  2. The data from the NCSP Core Dataset are for Chlamydia screens conducted within the NCSP outside of GUM clinics only.  3. The data presented include all screening tests done through the NCSP, and excludes diagnostic tests and tests of sexual contacts.  4. The data available from the NCSP are the number of screens and not the number of patients screened.

Skin Piercing

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to adopt the Local Government Act 2003 byelaws for cosmetic body piercing.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has published guidance for local authorities (LAs) on the powers available in the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (as amended by the Local Government Act 2003) to regulate cosmetic piercing businesses in their area. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	In response to feedback from LAs, the Department has also published a new single set of model byelaws covering tattooing, semi-permanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing, electrolysis and acupuncture. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	Departmental officials provide advice to LAs on the introduction of byelaws regulating cosmetic piercing and have spoken on the subject at conferences run by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Institute of Licensing.

Smoking

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have ceased smoking as a result of NHS smoking cessation measures in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Tees Valley district and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the exact format requested.
	Figures for the UK and by constituency are not collected. Data for England and for North East Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and associated primary care trusts (PCTs) are available for the years 2005-06 to 2007-8.
	Information for 2007-08 is available from the annual Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2007 to March 2008. This information can be found in table 3.5 on page 28. This publication has already been placed in the Library.
	Information for 2006-07 is available for the old and new SHA and PCT breakdowns from the annual Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2006 to March 2007. This information can be found in table 2.12 (old breakdown) and table 5.4 (new breakdown) on pages 18 and 65 respectively. This publication has already been placed in the Library.
	Information for 2005-06 is available on the old PCT and SHA breakdown from the annual Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2005 to March 2006. This information can be found in table 4.12 on page 37. This publication has already been placed in the Library.

Smoking: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have ceased smoking following participation in NHS smoking cessation measures in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: Information is not available in the format requested. Smoking cessation data are available at primary care trust (PCT) level. West Hertfordshire and East and North Hertfordshire Primary Care Trusts were formed on 1 October 2006. Data for these PCTs and their predecessor organisations are available for the years 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	Information on the number of successful quitters for 2007-08 is available from the annual Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2007 to March 2008. This information can be found in table 3.5 on pages 28-30. Information on the number of successful quitters for 2006-07 is available from the annual Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2006 to March 2007. This information can be found in table 2.12 and table 5.4 on pages 18-24 and 65-67 respectively. Information the number of successful quitters for 2005-06 is available from the annual Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2005 to March 2006. This information can be found in table 4.12 on page 37-43. These publications have already been placed in the Library.

Smoking: Young People

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people aged under 18 years who smoked in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the exact format requested.
	The latest information on the prevalence of smoking among adults aged 16 to 19 in Great Britain in 2006 is available from the General Household Survey 2006: Smoking and drinking among adults, 2006. This information can be found in Table 1.1 on page 15. This publication is already available in the Library.
	The latest information available on the prevalence of smoking in England among adults aged 16 to 19 can be found in the Statistics on Smoking: England, 2008 publication. The prevalence of smoking in 2006 in England can be found in table 2.1 on page 14. This publication has been placed in the Library.
	The latest information available on the prevalence of smoking among children aged 11 to 15 can be found in the Drug Use, Smoking and Drinking among Young People in England in 2007 publication. The prevalence of smoking in 2007 in England can be found in table 3.1 on page 116. Equivalent estimates of the number of regular smokers in 2007 among those aged 11 to 15 can be found on page 149, section 5.3. This publication has been placed in the Library.

Tobacco: Young People

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what penalties may be imposed upon those convicted for purchasing tobacco on behalf of those aged under 18 years;
	(2)  what budget has been allocated by his Department for the prevention of the purchase of tobacco on behalf of those under 18 years of age for the next 12 months;
	(3)  what guidance his Department has issued to trading standards officers on preventing of tobacco being purchased on behalf of those under 18 years of age;
	(4)  what powers trading standards officers have as means to prevent the purchase of tobacco on behalf of those under 18 years of age;
	(5)  how many people have been convicted for purchasing tobacco on behalf of another person under the age of 18 since October 2007;
	(6)  how many people have  (a) been cautioned and  (b) received a fixed penalty notice for purchasing tobacco on behalf of another person under the age of 18 since October 2007.

Dawn Primarolo: There is no criminal offence of purchasing tobacco on behalf of someone under the age of 18.

WiFi: Health Hazards

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the chairman of the Health Protection Agency on the possible health implications of the use of wireless technology;
	(2)  what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the potential effects on health of the use of wireless technology.

Dawn Primarolo: Exposure guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), are based on a comprehensive review of health effects of electromagnetic fields from sources including WiFi, mobile telephones and any wireless technology that emits radio signals. All these wireless devices are expected to comply with the ICNIRP exposure guidelines following the recommendations of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, chaired by Professor Sir William Stewart who now holds the position of Chair of the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
	The HPA issued the following advice in 2007:
	There is no consistent evidence to date that WiFi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population. The signals are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts) in both the computer and the router (access point) and the results so far show exposures are well within internationally accepted (ICNIRP) guidelines. Based on current knowledge and experience, radio frequency (RF) exposures from WiFi are likely to be lower than those from mobile phones.
	The HPA is currently carrying out a systematic programme of exposure measurements from wireless local area networks (WLANs). Further information about this study and wireless technology more generally is available on the HPA website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAwebPageHPAwebContentAreaLanding/Page/1153822623782